Hoima cooperative seeks value addition machinery
The cooperative, established in 2019, struggles with limited financial resources, which hinders their ability to purchase the necessary equipment
HOIMA, September 27, 2024 – Leaders of the Kigorobya Coffee Farmers’ Cooperative Society Limited in Hoima district have appealed to the government for support in acquiring machinery to enhance value addition for their coffee produce.
In an interview, Chairperson Muhereza Ajuna Rwaswiri said the cooperative currently lacks a coffee huller, forcing members to sell their coffee unprocessed and miss out on potential earnings. “Last season, farmers sold unprocessed coffee at Shs 5,000 per kilogramme, but with proper processing, they could have sold it for at least Shs 10,000,” he said.
He added: “We are appealing to the government to support us with a coffee huller, as we are losing money to middlemen who purchase from us at lower prices, and then sell at higher prices after hulling the coffee.”
The cooperative, established in 2019, struggles with limited financial resources, which hinders their ability to purchase the necessary equipment. Currently, they have 693 coffee farmers, though only 310 are registered with the society. Each farmer manages between four to six acres of coffee or more.
Rwaswiri further urged the government to provide the cooperative tractors and irrigation equipment to help enhance the commercial production of crops such as maize, beans, and bananas.
Most cooperative members rely on handheld hoes, which limits their acreage and means they primarily produce food for home consumption. He also emphasised the need for a coffee storage facility for bulking purposes.
Patrick Isingoma, Secretary of the cooperative, highlighted additional challenges, such as crop diseases and infertile soils. “We are appealing to the government for fertilisers and pesticides so we can produce high-quality coffee,” he said.
David Karubanga, the Member of Parliament for Kigorobya County, praised the farmers for forming the cooperative and encouraged those who have not yet joined to do so. He committed to assisting the cooperative in securing financing for value addition and mechanisation efforts.
https://thecooperator.news/lango-coffee-coop-minting-money-from-coffee-value-addition/
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