Response to a Problem
Coffee was introduced in Acholi and Lango sub-regions in mid-Northern Uganda, by 1997, at
first through pressure from political leaders, as an alternative perennial crop to the traditional
cotton crop. This was an effort to fight poverty levels - aggravated by effects of a prolonged
civil war in this sub-region. Cotton and other annual traditional food crops had little effect on
poverty and introducing coffee, as alternative perennial crop was deemed very important to
the region. Systematic coffee planting by the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA)
first as a pilot (around 2001), and subsequently, has had a positive impact in the mid-North
sub-region.
To date, 16000 farmers in mid-Northern Uganda have planted 5,441 hectares. The current
output in the sub-region is 154 metric tons; with a potential output estimated at 16,323 metric
tons at peak and stable production level by 2017. The study identified districts with high
potential for coffee production in the sub-region such as; Apac, Lira, Nwoya, and Oyam.
Enablers
UCDA through the elite clonal robusta coffee seedling distribution programme has been the
lead agent of change in the transfer of coffee technology in the sub-region. This has been
through working partnerships with about 132 low-cost-low- input private nursery operators.
The nursery operators are key actors in the transfer of proven high performing elite clonal
robusta seedlings to farmers in a cost effective way across 14 districts in the sub-region. This
programme has had varied success across the sub-region with pronounced responses in only
5 districts (Lira, Nwoya, Oyam, Kole, and Apac) out of the 14 districts in the sub-region.
Coffee Poverty Reduction Evidence
The 2009/10 UNPS data reveal a significant household poverty reduction effect from coffee
production; through incremental household consumption expenditure. Results further
confirm that coffee producing households are associated with lesser poverty incidence
compared to non-coffee producers. The interesting evidence we find from the study suggests
that coffee production is a pro-poor intervention due to its strong positive impact on per
capita consumption expenditure among the poorest households. Self-reported qualitative
assessment reveals that coffee farmers feel that their welfare has improved to satisfactory
levels from incomes earned from coffee. A farmer (as an individual) needs 1.4 metric tons of
kiboko (unprocessed) coffee in a year to earn 1.2 million shillings-UGX (the threshold annual
income) to move out of poverty.