File photo shows that an Arabica coffee farmer picks ripe red coffee cherries from his farm in Wanale subcounty, Mbale district, eastern Uganda. (Xinhua/Daniel Edyegu)
Uganda's coffee exports have increased by 17 percent over the last four financial years thanks to government's efforts, a report shows.
KAMPALA, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Uganda's coffee exports for the last four financial years have increased by 17 percent thanks to government's efforts, a report issued by the agricultural ministry said on Monday.
The report dubbed, "Agriculture Sector Implementation Status of the NRM Manifesto 2016-21 Commitments" showed that coffee exports increased to 4.17 million (60 kg) bags in financial year 2018-19 from 3.56 million bags in financial year 2015-16, up 17 percent.
The report also said that the value of exports increased by 18 percent to 416.2 million U.S. dollars in the financial year 2018-19 from 351.53 million dollars in the financial year 2015/16.
It said that the total production of the crop in the last four years has also increased by 56 percent to 6.95 million (60 kg) bags in the financial year 2018-19 from 4.46 million (60kg) bags in the financial year 2015/16.
It said coffee agro-processing is on the rise, with last year witnessing an increase in coffee processing hullers, coffee roasters, and export grading plants.
During the past four financial years, the government has distributed over 580 million coffee seedlings to coffee farming households across the five regions of the country through Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA).
Coffee is one of Uganda's major foreign exchange earners and about 500,000 households in the country depend on coffee production, according to UCDA.
The country is now looking at new markets like China to boost its coffee exports, according to UCDA. ■