MAAIF BOOSTS COFFE PRODUCTION IN ARUA CITY WITH 150,000 COFFEE SEEDLINGS

Coffee farmers listening attentively to the leaders before the distribution exercise,

By Sunday Amandi,

Arua city.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Animal industry and Fisheries,MAAIF launched distribution of 150,000 wilt resistant clonal cutting coffee seedlings in Arua city to boost coffee production for poverty alleviation among the farmers.

Clonal coffee seedlings are high-yielding, vegetative propagated seedlings derived from nodal stem cuttings instead of seeds.

Before the launch and distribution, the coffee farmers were trained by the ministry officials in the region on its production for better outcomes.

Charles Etoma, the regional coffee officer explains that, the variety distributed is unique and better compared to the previously distributed varieties,

“These clonal cuttings are resistant to wilt, and are resistant to coffee wilt disease, they are they are high yielding, they are earlier maturing, where you can get the fast harvest within 18 months, they are also long lasting when well-managed, we now encourage these farmers to plant these seedlings very well, do all the good agronomy practices to get the best out of it,” said Charles.

Hebert Amolo of the ministry of agriculture, animal industry and fisheries says, farmers are being involved fully in to coffee production due to its market value, and calls for their commitment towards the set goals,

“We have been distributing coffee for so many years before, and we are still continuing, this is in line with the government program of making sure that every household is in the money economy, as you are aware, the price of coffee has gone up and is currently the number one cash crop in the country, that’s why we are involving farmers so that they can increase their household income to help them in their daily activities, as the government supports you, you are supposed to also support yourself, farmers must have been ready, and when we give these seedlings, they plant them on spot,” Amolo said.

RCC Rt. Maj Betty Otekat Akello (center) and other leaders at the launch.

While launching the distribution at Ayivu division head quarters, the Resident City Commissioner for Arua city confirms that, there will be proper monitoring of the coffee growing projects after the distribution of the seedlings, to ensure better results in the communities,

“Because these are high value public resources, we have a robust monitoring frame work in place that has been established, the RCCs office will provide overall oversight and monitoring of this program,” RCC said.

However, Gift Ayikobua, a coffee farmer demands for an increase in the volume of the coffee seedlings distributed to meet the increasing demand by the farmers,

“When we heard about the coffee project, initially we were not impressing it because of market, but now the government has come in, we feel there is market readily available, now that the demand is there, can we increase our supply,” Ayikobua demands,

According to the Uganda Coffee Development Authority, as of mid-2026, Ugandan coffee prices are high, driven by strong global demand.