Uganda is Africa’s leading exporter of coffee and one of the top coffee producing countries in the world. Coffee is one of Uganda’s major agricultural exports and an important contributor to the country’s economy. Here is an overview of the status of coffee production in Uganda:
Coffee Growing Regions
Uganda has two main coffee growing regions:
- Central Region – Located around Lake Victoria and includes districts like Mukono, Mpigi, Luwero, Kayunga, and Wakiso. This region accounts for about 60% of Uganda’s coffee production.
- Western Region – Located in elevations between 1000-1800 meters above sea level in districts like Kabarole, Kasese, Bundibugyo, etc. This region accounts for around 40% of production.
Coffee Varieties Grown
The two main coffee varieties grown in Uganda are:
- Robusta – Accounts for about 80% of production. Robusta is a high yielding, disease resistant variety that grows at lower elevations. It has a strong, bitter taste and is mainly used for instant coffee production and espresso blends.
- Arabica – Accounts for 20% of production. Arabica grows at higher elevations and has a sweeter, more complex taste. It is of higher quality than Robusta but lower yields. The main Arabica varieties in Uganda are Typica, Kent and SL varieties.
Coffee Production
Uganda’s coffee production has steadily increased over the past decade:
| Year | Coffee Production (60kg bags) |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 2,602,000 |
| 2011 | 3,010,000 |
| 2012 | 2,789,800 |
| 2013 | 3,268,000 |
| 2014 | 3,500,100 |
| 2015 | 4,143,690 |
| 2016 | 4,782,246 |
| 2017 | 4,567,803 |
| 2018 | 4,906,685 |
| 2019 | 5,350,000 |
In 2019/20, coffee production reached a record 7.5 million 60kg bags. The strong production was due to favorable weather and rehabilitated plantations coming into maturity.
The following chart shows Uganda’s coffee production over the past decade:
Coffee Exports
Uganda exports over 90% of its coffee production. The main export destinations are:
- European Union (Italy, Germany, Belgium) – 30%
- African countries (Sudan, Libya, Morocco) – 30%
- United States – 10%
- Others (Japan, Middle East, Russia, Switzerland, South Korea) – 30%
On average, Uganda exports about 4.5 million 60kg bags of coffee annually valued at over $400 million. This makes it Africa’s leading coffee exporter. The following pie chart shows the percentage breakdown of Uganda’s coffee exports by destination:
Challenges Facing the Sector
Despite steady production growth, Uganda’s coffee sector faces some key challenges including:
- Overreliance on smallholder farmers – About 1.7 million smallholder farmers produce over 90% of Uganda’s coffee. Low productivity and poor farming practices affect yields.
- Pest and diseases – Coffee wilt disease, leaf rust and the coffee berry borer have affected yields.
- Climate change – Rising temperatures, droughts and erratic rainfall patterns are projected to negatively impact yields.
- Low quality – Lack of washing stations and poor harvesting and processing practices lead to low quality coffee. Only about 20% is premium graded.
- Price fluctuations – Global coffee prices are volatile and affect earnings.
- Inadequate value-addition – Most coffee is exported raw as green beans without extra processing.
- High production costs – High costs of farm inputs, labor, finance, etc. lower farmer profits.
- Poor infrastructure – Inadequate road infrastructure, energy, storage facilities increase costs.
Government and Private Sector Initiatives
The government and private sector stakeholders are undertaking initiatives to boost Uganda’s coffee production and address sector challenges. Some key initiatives include:
- Promoting adoption of good agricultural practices through training programs for farmers.
- Establishing coffee nurseries across the country to provide farmers with disease-free planting material.
- Supporting establishment of coffee washing stations and mills to improve quality.
- Providing subsidized farm inputs like fertilizers and pesticides.
- Carrying out research on drought resistant and disease tolerant coffee varieties.
- Improving rural road infrastructure in coffee growing areas.
- Facilitating access to affordable credit for farmers through the Uganda Development Bank.
- Promoting value-addition through coffee roasting, packaging and emerging coffee shops.
- Undertaking marketing and promotion campaigns in emerging markets.
- Forming cooperatives and farmer groups to empower smallholders.
Outlook
The outlook for coffee production in Uganda seems positive supported by increasing domestic consumption and external demand. With improved farming practices, new varieties and value-addition, production is projected to reach over 20 million bags by 2025. To achieve this, public-private partnerships and appropriate policies will be crucial to transform the coffee sector. With its excellent climate, youthful population and abundant land, Uganda is well placed to sustain its status as a leading African coffee producer.
