Kamuli, Uganda: Coffee farmers and traders in Kamuli have been urged to prioritise quality by avoiding the harvesting of immature coffee, as stakeholders unveiled a new digital platform aimed at improving transparency and efficiency in Uganda’s coffee trade.
The call was made by Nkutu Elizafani, Senior Agriculture Officer at the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), during a meeting with coffee farmers, processors and buyers held on Wednesday at Bugabula Guest House in Kamuli Municipality.
Nkutu warned that harvesting immature coffee continues to undermine the quality of Uganda’s coffee and reduces farmers’ earnings on the international market. “Let us avoid harvesting immature coffee. We have agreed to give it one month so that the coffee can mature well and fetch better prices for farmers.”
He revealed that farmers, coffee buyers and processors had unanimously agreed to suspend coffee processing operations for one month to allow cherries to mature fully before being harvested and processed.
According to Nkutu, the temporary halt is expected to improve the quality of coffee reaching the market, strengthen Uganda’s competitiveness globally and increase incomes for coffee farmers.
The Chairman of the Greater Kamuli Coffee Consortium, Kezekia Wagubi, welcomed the sensitisation campaign, saying it would help improve coffee standards across the district. “We thank MAAIF and government for this sensitisation. If farmers follow this advice, the quality of Kamuli coffee will improve, and our farmers will earn more income,” he said.
The meeting also marked the launch of the Symos System App, a new digital platform designed to streamline coffee transactions between farmers and buyers.
Speaking at the event, Shamim Namambwe, Regional Coordinator for Asigma Group of Companies, said the application is expected to make coffee trading more efficient, transparent and profitable across the country.
“The Symos System App we have introduced will make buying and selling of coffee easier, transparent and profitable for both farmers and buyers across the country,” Namambwe said.
The initiative forms part of ongoing efforts to modernise Uganda’s coffee value chain by promoting quality production and embracing digital technologies to improve market access and transparency.
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