JKCC has advised Coffee farmers in Buikwe District to consider adding value to their coffee for good quality as they improve their standards of living.
The JKCC team had paid a courtesy visit to Villages of Nantwaala, Seruti, Buwagga and Busagazi. Speaking to the farmers, Benon Tugumisirize, Manager PR and Sustainability revealed that Coffee value addition in Uganda is performed by drying coffee cherries and/or hulling coffee beans. This if put in consideration he said helps improve coffee quality and quantity which in the end fetches better market.
The training which took place on 28th of April, was premised at the objective of empowering the youth, men and women on commercial agriculture to improve coffee quality.
Having teamwork at JKCC’s core, a farmer group dubbed Buikwe Coffee Farmers’ Association was formed and its leadership elected. This is intended to act as a bridge between the farmers and JKCC as well ease trainings and market access.
With insights on the advantages of coffee value addition, the farmers revealed that they have been selling their coffee as red cherries and as green cherries on the farm. They confessed to having been transformed by the training and agreed to start adding value to their coffee by processing it into Fair Average Quantity (FAQ) contrary to what they have been doing in the past. This will free farmers from all forms of exploitation so as to access a better market and have value for their produce. In turn these farmers pledged to supply their coffee to JKCC.
Additionally, the JKCC team visited some coffee farms and illustrated how the different agronomic practices are carried out. Farmers also raised a number of concerns and requested the team to regularly conduct trainings in their villages which the team promised to fulfill as they keep working together.
By Mary Gorrette Asiimwe & Recheal Nampijja PR &Sustainability