Story by Ivan Mugisha
Ibanda District authorities have renewed their warning to coffee farmers against harvesting immature beans, citing serious consequences for Uganda’s coffee quality, reputation, and farmer incomes.
The call was made during a sensitization campaign held on Wednesday in Ibanda North and South, where District Production Officer Peter Abaho Bwengye stressed the importance of following proper harvesting and post-harvest handling standards to tap into high-value international markets.
“Our coffee must meet global quality standards. Harvesting immature beans not only lowers the price but also risks our credibility as a top coffee exporter,” Bwengye said.
During field visits to coffee gardens and drying sites, several farmers were found violating post-harvest guidelines. One farmer in Bwera Cell, Nyamarebe Sub-county, was caught drying immature beans directly on bare ground, a practice that significantly degrades quality.
In April, the district intensified enforcement, seizing and destroying bags of unripe and rotten coffee to deter malpractice. These actions are part of a larger campaign to maintain Uganda’s standing as one of the world’s premier coffee exporters.
Captain Innocent Byaruhanga, the Coordinator of Operation Wealth Creation in Ibanda North, reaffirmed government support for both enforcement and farmer education. He called on all stakeholders to collaborate in preserving the integrity of Uganda’s coffee sector.
Authorities pledged to continue sensitization and monitoring efforts to ensure quality control from farm to market.
