Sat Sep 14 14:55:55 UTC 2024: ## Uganda’s Coffee Boom: A New Generation of Farmers Needed
**Kampala, Uganda** – Uganda, renowned for its Robusta coffee, is witnessing a surge in coffee production, with the country on track to surpass its annual target of 20 million bags significantly earlier than anticipated. This boom, driven by attractive coffee prices, is bringing economic prosperity to rural communities, with farmers investing in new homes, vehicles, and household items.
While the rise in coffee production is a positive development, experts warn that the lack of knowledge about the crop’s production and trade amongst younger generations poses a risk to the industry’s future.
The Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) estimates that this year’s coffee production could exceed 9 million bags, significantly higher than the 6.3 million bags produced in 2023, which earned the country $1.25 billion in foreign exchange.
“We are seeing farmers paying more attention to their crops,” says a farmer from a coffee-growing region. “More and more people are going into coffee production, turning formerly idle land into coffee plantations.”
The economic benefits are undeniable. However, there are concerns about the lack of coffee knowledge among young people, who are leaving their homes early for school and returning too tired to participate in farm work or learn about coffee farming.
“We need to build a strong foundation for future coffee producers,” says a coffee expert. “We need to include coffee production in our school curriculum and set up coffee school gardens in all the coffee-growing regions.”
The expert emphasizes the importance of educating young people about coffee’s production, processing, and trade. This will not only ensure the sustainability of the industry but also empower future generations to take advantage of the economic opportunities offered by coffee.
“Too many of our farmers don’t even know what happens to the crop when it leaves their farm,” the expert adds. “They don’t understand its trade. We need to change this.”
The call to action for educators, policymakers, and the coffee industry is clear: Investing in the knowledge and training of young people is crucial to ensuring the long-term success of Uganda’s coffee sector.
First Piper 