GULU CITY, February 17, 2026 — First-time coffee farmers in West Acholi are counting significant losses after prolonged dry conditions and poor crop management left thousands of seedlings withered in their gardens.
Many growers who planted coffee for the first time in mid-2025 had hoped the perennial crop would lift them out of poverty. Instead, a lack of water and inadequate shade has seen large numbers of young plants dry up before maturity.
Moses Lukwiya, a farmer from Panykworo village in Bungatira Sub-county, Gulu district, told theCooperator News that more than half of the 800 coffee seedlings he planted in July 2025 have since dried out, leaving gaps that must now be replanted.
Lukwiya admits he made mistakes at the outset.
“I planted the coffee late, around August, and did not plan for irrigation or mulching. I planted bananas expecting they would provide enough shade, but later realised I also needed shade trees. That has cost me heavily,” he said.
He invested Shs 800,000 in seedlings and weeded the garden three times, yet he is still far from seeing any return on his efforts. Lukwiya opted to purchase seedlings after those supplied under the government’s Operation Wealth Creation programme were delayed.
Despite the setback, he remains determined.
“I have learnt from my mistakes. When the rains begin, I will plant trees immediately and conserve water for irrigation during the next dry season. I do not want to lose the more than 500 seedlings I am replacing,” he said.
Alex Otim, Chairperson of the Gulu Coffee Farmers’ Cooperative, which has more than 100 members, said farmers located near water sources have managed to irrigate their crops. However, nine members lost more than 4,700 coffee plants during the current dry spell, expected to ease in March.
Otim noted that farmers who applied fertiliser, mulched and irrigated their crops recorded far higher survival rates.
“We are appealing to the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Industries to support our members with water pumps, even on loan, so that we are protected during the dry season. Such losses should not continue in future,” Otim said.
He urged farmers to remain resilient, emphasising that coffee, as a perennial crop, still holds strong potential to transform livelihoods across the Acholi sub-region.
Bosco Otto, a veteran coffee farmer in Koro Sub-county, Omoro district, has been in the business for more than 20 years and runs a nursery bed of coffee seedlings. He believes many new farmers lack adequate training in crop management.
“I have visited several farms and found many crops have dried up. Farmers are often surprised when they see my plantation doing well. I tell them it comes down to management, proper shading and mulching are essential,” Otto explained.
Given the harsh weather conditions in the Acholi sub-region, he advised farmers to plant fast-maturing shade trees alongside bananas to protect young coffee plants from excessive heat.
Geoffrey Jomo Oyet, the Production Officer for Omoro district, said farmers should prepare to fill the gaps once the rains resume.
At least 10 per cent of the more than 214,000 coffee seedlings distributed to farmers under Operation Wealth Creation last year have dried up, partly due to the early onset of the dry season.
“Rainfall patterns were abnormal last year. We would normally receive rain throughout November, but that was not the case,” Oyet said.
He added that while the district expects government support in the form of replacement seedlings, farmers are being encouraged to undertake gap-filling using their own resources rather than relying entirely on state assistance.
“They can purchase seedlings from any certified nursery operator,” he said.
https://thecooperator.news/acholi-farmers-count-losses-as-dry-season-arrives-early/
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