Kapchorwa farmers receive coffee seedlings to enhance household incomes

KAPCHORWA, June 11, 2026 — More than 100 farmers in Kaserem Subcounty, Kapchorwa district, have received improved coffee seedlings under a government programme aimed at boosting household incomes and promoting agricultural commercialisation across the country.

The distribution exercise, conducted recently through the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries [MAAIF] and coordinated by the Kapchorwa district Production and Marketing Department, saw more than 25,000 SL14 coffee seedlings allocated to eligible farmers in Kaserem Subcounty.

The exercise attracted local leaders, agricultural extension workers and farmers, who welcomed the intervention as a timely effort to expand coffee production and improve livelihoods.

Speaking during the distribution, Kaserem Subcounty Chief Hadijah Chebet commended MAAIF for supporting farmers with improved planting materials.

She noted that coffee remains one of the most reliable income-generating enterprises for rural households and urged beneficiaries to make proper use of the seedlings.

“Coffee is a key enterprise that can transform household incomes if managed properly. The provision of quality seedlings is a significant step towards increasing productivity and improving livelihoods,” Chebet said.

She emphasised the need to transform agriculture from subsistence farming to commercial production and encouraged farmers to follow recommended agronomic practices to ensure high survival rates and increased productivity.

According to Chebet, government investments in agriculture can only deliver meaningful results when farmers take responsibility for managing the inputs provided.

She also called on local leaders and extension workers to continue offering technical support to ensure the success of coffee farming in the area.

During the exercise, Kaserem Extension Officer Dennis Torkoch explained the criteria used in allocating the seedlings, saying distribution was based on the amount of land available for coffee cultivation and the farmers’ production capacity.

According to Torkoch, farmers with up to three acres of land each received 640 seedlings, which he said was sufficient to establish productive coffee gardens.

“We have distributed 640 seedlings to farmers owning three acres of land to enable them establish viable coffee plantations. This is part of the government’s efforts to increase coffee production and improve household incomes,” he said.

He added that commercial farmers received larger allocations to match their production capacity and investment potential.

“For commercial farmers, we distributed 1,920 seedlings each. These farmers have larger pieces of land and the capacity to manage bigger coffee plantations. The aim is to support large-scale production while also empowering smallholder farmers,” Torkoch explained.

He said the SL14 coffee variety was selected because of its high yield potential and adaptability to local growing conditions.

Torkoch encouraged beneficiaries to plant the seedlings during favourable weather conditions and ensure proper maintenance through regular weeding, mulching and pest management.

He further highlighted the strategic role of coffee in Uganda’s agricultural transformation agenda, noting that increased production could enhance household incomes while contributing to national export earnings.

Farmers who received the seedlings expressed gratitude to the government, describing the intervention as a boost to agricultural productivity and economic development in the area.

Several beneficiaries said the high cost of acquiring quality coffee seedlings had previously limited their ability to expand production, making government-supported distribution programmes vital for rural farmers.

They pledged to properly manage the seedlings and apply the technical guidance provided by extension workers to achieve good yields in the coming years.

The distribution of the SL14 coffee seedlings forms part of ongoing government efforts to promote coffee growing as a commercial enterprise across the country.

Through MAAIF and local government structures, farmers continue to receive improved planting materials and extension services aimed at enhancing agricultural productivity.

District agricultural officials expressed optimism that the seedlings distributed in Kaserem Subcounty would significantly increase coffee acreage and production levels in Kapchorwa district.

As farmers begin planting the seedlings, local authorities have reiterated the importance of continued collaboration among farmers, extension workers and government agencies to maximise the benefits of the programme.

With more than 25,000 coffee seedlings now distributed to farmers, Kaserem Subcounty is expected to witness a gradual expansion of coffee farming, a development leaders believe will strengthen household incomes, create employment opportunities and advance agricultural commercialisation in Kapchorwa district.

https://thecooperator.news/lira-city-schools-receive-coffee-seedlings-to-support-practical-learning/

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