Uganda

Luwero coffee improvement project

''Better quality, more efficiency and direct market access for small-scale coffee producers in Luwero''

Following an earlier initiative (''Strengthening food security for children and families living in poverty in Luwero'' 1999-2003), this project focused specifically on improving coffee production and market access. In order not to lose the results of the earlier project, it was important to intensify training at producer group level regarding certification processes, documentation, Internal Control System (ICS), internal inspections and record keeping. In addition, an strategy was developed for producers to become independent of further external support.

Focus of the project

To increase coffee production in Luwero through quality improvement, good agricultural practices and as a result, obtain market access for participating producer groups.

Activities

• Providing materials and tools for compliance with the UTZ Certified code of conduct
• Training producer groups (depot committees) to become better organized and capable of providing more benefits to their members

Results

The depot committee (''DC'') is the local organizational set-up in which producers are trained and cooperate. A total of 19 DCs are active, selling more coffee to Ibero (an international exporter) than before the project's inception and expanding their activities to other crops. Participating producers obtained around 20 percent higher prices than non-partcipating producers because of higher quality coffee, certification and bulking of their coffee in DCs. Project participants invested more resources in pruning, mulching, rain-water harvesting and re-planting than non-project participants. Project farmers realized on average 30 percent higher coffee yields per hectare, covering a larger percentage of their land. Training has been carried out for DCs, chemical experts, first-aid roles and internal inspectors. Although results are encouraging, producers face the challenge of being able to keep up the requirements needed for certification. Additional valuable contribution made by this project came from our school agricultural outreach activities. The project introduced coffee cultivation in the basic education curriculum for children, most of which may become farmers later.

In order to remain successful, an additional three years will be dedicated to producers that are interested in continuing to improve their agricultural practices related to production and coffee quality. Ibero is working to link those producers with other projects in the area to expand their scope and facilitate access to the services offered by national extension organisations in Uganda.

Partners

E.D.E consulting: www.ede-consulting.de

Contact information

Ina Wengrzyk, ina@ede-consulting.com