The regional quality manager Uganda coffee development authority, Gordon Katwirenabo says that although the legislation is meant to boost quality coffee production, they have received a lot of public criticism.
The Uganda Coffee Development
Authority-UCDA has embarked on an enlightenment campaign to help stakeholders in the Coffee
value chain n Rwenzori region understand the
significance of the controversial National Coffee Act, 2021.
The campaign follows
controversies from different stakeholders in the region
questioning
the operations and benefits of the new law to
small scale farmers.
Gazzated
in September 2021, the coffee act is purposed to facilitate a
competitive, participatory and sustainable coffee sub-sector in accordance with
the National Coffee Policy, 2013; to enable the UCDA to regulate, promote and
oversee the coffee sub-sector; in addition to regulating on-farm and off-farm
activities in the coffee value chain.
But farmers in Kasese who interacted with URN think that the new legislation is
intended to give more powers to government to control the ages-old coffee sector more than the farmer themselves.
The regional quality manager Uganda Coffee Development
Authority, Gordon Katwirenabo says that although the legislation is meant to boost quality coffee
production, they have received a lot of public
criticism.
He attributed this to the limited awareness that was given to farmers before the act was drafted and put into law.
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Katwirenabo believes the act is the best development that has happened
to the coffee sector in recent years since it will be right at the heart of
government.
He said Ugandan coffee dealers have a great opportunity to penetrate
the international sales chain but this rests
on the stability of production.
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But the farmers says the coffee act 2021 is likely to chase many
farmers and coffee traders from the business.
Alex
Kambale, the chairperson of Coffee traders in Kasese says that whereas the law
boasts some postives, it should extensively be explained well to the farmers so
that they can stay in the business.
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Charles Kisembo a coffee farmer says with or without
the coffee law there are still challenges that need to be addressed especially
in rural areas such as improving on value addition, fertilizers and pest and disease control.
Moses Mumbere another coffee farmer says the new law
scared most of the farmers since it was passed without engaging them to
understand its actual motive and they
are certain they cannot meet some of the clauses.
He noted that traditionally coffee was grown as any other agricultural
product.
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But Katwirenabo says
some of these issues are emerging because farmer’s have not fully been given
the right information.
He is hopeful that under this drive the law
will be positively appreciated.
