Uganda’s Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Frank Tumwebaze, has urged stakeholders to put aside politics and work together to improve the country’s coffee sector.
Addressing recent debates surrounding the rationalization of the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA), Tumwebaze emphasized that the exercise aims to streamline service delivery and eliminate duplication of efforts.
“The rationalization is not about UCDA alone; it’s a reorganization of the entire government structure. We seek to consolidate resources and efforts, eliminating scattering of scarce resources,” he explained.
Tumwebaze noted that critics of the rationalization plan had previously condemned UCDA’s withdrawal from the International Coffee Organization (ICO), predicting dire consequences for Ugandan coffee. However, coffee prices have instead increased exponentially.
He challenged the notion that the Ministry of Agriculture lacks capacity to handle UCDA’s responsibilities, pointing out that UCDA staff, including its Managing Director, Dr. Yamulyemye, originated from the ministry.
Tumwebaze identified the real challenge facing the coffee sector: lack of funding for agricultural research. He appealed for increased support for the National Coffee Research Institute (NACORI) under the National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO), which develops disease-free and resistant coffee seedlings.
“Let’s fund NACORI/NARO to produce more disease-free coffee foundation seed. This is the breeding house for our proud coffee crop,” he urged.
The Minister emphasized that farmers require correct seed, advisory services, and markets. “We don’t have to spend sleepless nights debating this. If UCDA hadn’t been supported by the government, what would it have done? MAAIF has been fighting diseases and pests successfully despite being underfunded.”
Tumwebaze called for combined efforts to guarantee the future of Uganda’s coffee sector.
Key Points:
Rationalization aims to streamline service delivery and eliminate duplication
Ministry of Agriculture has capacity to handle UCDA’s responsibilities
Funding for agricultural research, specifically NACORI/NARO, is crucial
Farmers need correct seed, advisory services, and markets
Politics should be set aside for the benefit of the coffee sector
Report compiled by Ms. Teddy Namayanja, she’s a Staff Writer at SML News UG, passionate about Politics, Justice, Law & Order and Human Rights