BY HOPE

Authorities in Lwengo district, Mbirizi town council have resolved to constitute village coffee committees to respond to rising cases of theft and methods that compromise the quality of the produce in the communities. In a workshop held at Kinoni town council in Lwengo district, the Uganda Quality Coffee Traders Association informed coffee farmers about the new laws governing coffee traders and farmers..

The president of Uganda last month signed into law the national coffee amendment bill 2024 sealing the fate of the farmers and traders in the coffee sector which contributes between 7 percent and 22 percent of the country’s GDP.  The new laws on coffee were given out to coffee farmers and traders relaying how best their produce can be handled as well as the policies that will govern the coffee growing. The chairperson of coffee farmers in kiseka Sub County warned that violators will be taken to court and prosecuted according to the law.

The Secretary General of the association, urged Ugandans to be part of the association whose innumerous benefits include being well connected to the international market.

Farmers have been warned to beware of fraudsters. They were also urged to be mindful of the quality of coffee produced. On the other hand, coffee farmers and traders in Lwengo were frustrated with the registered farmers who sell seeds to them at expensive prices.

Sselemba Josephmary, a coffee farmer appealed to the government to reduce the taxes on pesticides to affordable prices .Farmers implored the concerned authorities, to take training to the villages where the coffee growers are.

One of the founders of the association, Kizito Mbaaga , urged the government to crack down on those who put counterfeit medicines on the market and warned that violators will be taken to court and prosecuted according to the law.

Farmers have been urged to be watchful.