Lira City schools receive coffee seedlings to support practical learning
Each of the beneficiary schools received 350 seedlings
LIRA CITY, April 28, 2026 — A total of 7,350 coffee seedlings have been distributed to 21 schools in Lira City that have established coffee demonstration gardens, in a move aimed at promoting practical agricultural learning and supporting future income generation.
Each of the beneficiary schools received 350 seedlings. The schools include Comboni College, Ireda Primary School, Erute Primary School, Boke Primary School, Lira Primary School, Amuca Primary School, Barapwo Primary School and Punularu Primary School, among others.
The distribution forms part of a larger consignment of 150,000 coffee seedlings delivered to Lira City — the first batch of the 500,000 requested from the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries [MAAIF]. Some of the seedlings have also been allocated to selected farmers within the city.
Andrew Okello Awany, the Regional Agricultural Officer overseeing Lira, Otuke, Alebtong, Dokolo, Kalaki, Kaberamaido and Amolatar districts, said the initiative is intended to contribute to poverty reduction.
“The aim of distributing coffee seedlings is to eradicate poverty at household level and improve people’s living standards,” he said.
Okello added that teachers will also benefit from the initiative, noting that coffee farming could provide an additional source of income and help ease financial pressures that have often led to industrial action.
“In the past, teachers frequently raised concerns about delayed or low salaries. By supporting them with such initiatives, we believe it will help improve their livelihoods and reduce the likelihood of strikes,” he said.
City education officials have welcomed the development as a realisation of earlier efforts to integrate agriculture into school programmes. In 2025, Canon Jane Obeny, the Lira City Education Officer, urged schools to establish demonstration farms for coffee and cocoa while addressing headteachers during the Annual General Meeting of the Association of Secondary School Headteachers’ Union [ASSHU] at Lango College.
She encouraged schools to adopt teaching approaches that prepare students with practical life skills, particularly in agriculture.
“I urge all schools to embrace agricultural initiatives. The government is promoting coffee and cocoa growing, and schools should actively participate,” Canon Obeny said.
She added that even schools with limited land can plant a few trees for both educational and symbolic purposes.
“Students should be encouraged to learn how to grow these crops. If they do not succeed academically or fail to secure formal employment, they will have a viable alternative source of income. This can also help reduce youth unemployment and crime,” she said.
Meanwhile, Ferdinand Okello Alele, the Lira City Assistant Resident Commissioner, called on teachers to embrace coffee farming as a supplementary income source.
“Teachers and other technical staff should look beyond their salaries. With support from MAAIF, coffee growing offers an additional opportunity. In the next six to ten years, one could earn up to four million shillings. While the Government may face challenges, efforts are being made to improve livelihoods,” he said.
Coffee farming is steadily expanding across the Lango Sub-region in Northern Uganda as part of a broader economic transformation strategy. The shift from traditional cotton farming to high-value, drought-tolerant Robusta coffee is expected to enhance household incomes and resilience.
https://thecooperator.news/lira-city-pwds-embrace-coffee-farming-to-secure-future-for-families/
Buy your copy of thecooperator magazine from one of our country-wide vending points or an e-copy on emag.thecooperator.news
