Uganda launches capacity building initiative to boost coffee production in Acholi sub-region
Government invests in training and seedlings to expand coffee farming and address rising demand in Northern Uganda.
UGANDA – The Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), in collaboration with Operation Wealth Creation (OWC), has launched a capacity building initiative aimed at enhancing coffee production in Uganda’s Acholi Sub-region.
The program, which is currently underway in Gulu City, Lamwo, and Pader districts, involves a structured training-of-trainers approach designed to equip agricultural officers and lead farmers with technical skills in coffee cultivation, marketing, post-harvest handling, and pest and disease management.
According to Sylvia Owori, Director at Operation Wealth Creation, the training will be conducted routinely to ensure that farmers have consistent access to expert agricultural support.
She explained that the initiative is part of a broader strategy to improve coffee farming practices in the sub-region, where the demand for coffee seedlings has seen a significant rise.
Owori noted that while farmers in the past received inputs, many struggled with implementation due to limited knowledge on proper agronomic practices.
In response to the growing interest in coffee farming, the government has allocated UGX 5.5 billion for the procurement of 20 million coffee seedlings, which are scheduled for distribution to registered farmers this planting season.
Owori revealed that at least 10,000 farmers in the Acholi Sub-region are expected to benefit from this support.
She added that the government plans to establish value addition facilities in the coming years as part of efforts to strengthen the coffee value chain.
Winnifred Janny Oyella, Regional Agricultural Coffee Officer at MAAIF, confirmed a sharp increase in demand for coffee seedlings in Northern Uganda over the last two years.
During the 2021/2022 financial year, the region requested 24 million seedlings, with 10 million from the mid-north areas of Acholi and Lango. This demand rose to 15 million seedlings in the 2022/2023 fiscal year.
Oyella anticipates further increases as the ongoing training empowers more farmers to take up coffee cultivation.
The government is promoting clonal coffee varieties in the region due to their higher yield potential compared to the elite coffee varieties previously introduced.
Distribution of clonal coffee began in 2021 under the now-integrated Uganda Coffee Development Authority and OWC programs.
Sarah Kataika, Director for Policy and Planning at OWC, advised farmers to begin coffee farming on a scale that aligns with their available financial resources. Currently, an estimated 5,000 acres in the Acholi Sub-region are under coffee cultivation.
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