The JKCC farmer wing “Consortium of Central and Western Farmers Association (COCEWEFA)” has engaged coffee farmer leaders to forge ways of spreading roots deep on the ground to boost coffee farming.

The engagement held at JKCC head office in Nabbingo-Wakiso District focused on identifying the challenges farmers face in business and finding possible solutions.

Benon Tugumisirize, Manager Public Relations who doubles as head COCEWEFA project encouraged farmers to desist from harvesting coffee before it’s ripe (Red cherries) because it contravenes with the market standards. “I have realized that some of you harvest raw coffee and even sell off this precious commodity when it’s still in the gardens. I wish to tell you that this is wrong and contravenes with the coffee market standards and therefore should be avoided.” Said Tugumisirize

He noted that after the needs assessment, JKCC will provide the farmers with fertilizers, Tarpaulins, seedlings and Agricultural sprayers. He realized need for trainings to farmers in financial literacy, saving, record keeping and loan management. This he said will save them from exploitative middlemen.

The successful engagement saw farmer representatives from areas of Kifampa, Nakatooke and Nanziga who expressed concerns about the middlemen that buy their goods cheaply and sell them expensively. The farmer leaders requested for continued update on the market prices adding that this would be a right solution to end the vice.

The farmers pledged continued partnership with JKCC and will always sell her their coffee.

Under the umbrella of Consortium of Central and Western Farmers Association (COCEWEFA), JKCC boasts of over 3700 registered member farmers in districts of Wakiso, Mukono, Luwero, Mityana, Masaka, Mpigi, Gomba, Kayunga, Rakai, Isingiro, Ntungamo, Bushenyi, Kisoro, Kanungu, Rukungiri, Ibanda.

The team is now on the countrywide drive to sensitize and train farmers about fair trade coupled with the farmers’ rights and obligations.