The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) earmarked $480,000 towards promoting Uganda’s coffee sector development plans as stipulated in the Policy.
The National Coffee Policy is expected to rejuvenate Uganda’s coffee sector.
This funding is channeled through the National Union of Coffee Agri-businesses and Farm Enterprises (NUCAFE) a local entity that is taking on the task of popularizing the Policy among all actors in the coffee value chain, including coffee farmers, coffee buyers, coffee processors, packers and exporters.
Acknowledging USAID’s financial support, NUCAFE executive director, Joseph Nkandu hailed the deal as a landmark partnership aimed at enabling coffee farmers to understand all principles and government of Uganda intentions stipulated in the Policy.
“USAID was instrumental in the launch of the Policy,” he said.
“Supporting its implementation is a big step forward in creating awareness about it for farmers who influenced its formulation to continue owning the process all through to implementation.”
Launched in 2013 by government after extensive consultations with various stakeholders, the National Coffee Policy outlines major interventions such as irrigation, farmers owning their coffee, formulating the National Coffee standard, enhanced research and encouraging farmers to invest in processing and value addition.
It also highlights government’s support to farmer organizations as key reforms aimed at revitalizing the sector.
