Agriculture State Minister Bright Rwamirama and Isingiro South MP Mujuni Maali Asensio have launched a coffee seedling distribution drive aimed at helping farmers in the area increase household incomes and reduce rural poverty.
Speaking at the launch in Isingiro South over the weekend, Rwamirama highlighted the area’s agricultural potential, saying its conditions were suitable for coffee cultivation.
“This area of Isingiro South is the only area suitable for coffee growing in this zone. As you heard from statistics, local farmers are already leading in production. We came to launch this initiative because we want to introduce coffee varieties that are wilt-resistant and fast-maturing,” Rwamirama said.
Maali urged farmers to adopt recommended agronomic practices and properly maintain their coffee plants to improve yields.
“I was actually telling the farmers that with coffee, people can lift themselves out of poverty. If this coffee is looked after very well and people plant it in accordance with the rules and guidelines, I know that within two to three years, people will be harvesting in abundance,” Maali said.
He defended the distribution of coffee seedlings to households, describing the initiative as part of efforts to empower rural communities economically.
“Giving coffee to the people of Uganda is not criminal anywhere. Even during the elections, President Yoweri Museveni recommended that if leaders have the capacity to get these seedlings and distribute them to the people, they should do so because we are fighting poverty,” Maali said.
He added that the initiative was intended to contribute to the government’s broader poverty-reduction efforts.
“Agriculture remains the backbone of Uganda’s economy. We want to see a poverty-free population within the next five years,” he said.
The organisers expect the wilt-resistant and fast-maturing coffee varieties to help farmers reduce crop losses and improve productivity. However, actual yields and the time taken to begin harvesting will depend on the varieties distributed, growing conditions and how well farmers manage their plants.