SOROTI, 25 April 2025 — At least 210 residents of Soroti district have been sensitised and enrolled to begin growing coffee this year, according to the District Production Officer, James Michael Enyaku.
Speaking during the sensitisation of the farmers at Soroti district headquarters recently, Enyaku revealed that the enrolled farmers are preparing to cultivate Robusta coffee, one of Uganda’s top foreign exchange earners.
“So far, we have enrolled over 200 farmers who have shown a willingness to allocate part of their land to coffee farming,” he said.
Farmers from Dakabela and Gweri sub-counties are among those who have embraced the initiative.
The sensitisation programme is being implemented by the Production Department of Soroti District in partnership with the Operation Wealth Creation [OWC] Secretariat. The initiative aims to empower smallholder farmers with knowledge and access to irrigation equipment to help them transition into commercial agriculture.
Enyaku outlined several advantages of growing coffee in Soroti, citing the district’s untapped soils, which have never previously been used for coffee cultivation. “We expect the soils to remain productive for a significant period as coffee farming is introduced,” he noted.
He added that with proper training and support, each coffee plant can yield between 1 to 3 kilogrammes of beans within five years. “With approximately 120 seedlings planted per acre, and a focus on producing quality coffee, we believe this initiative can play a major role in lifting our farmers out of poverty,” he said.
Enyaku further encouraged more farmers to enrol in the programme, highlighting the crop’s international demand and stable market prices, which offer more predictable returns compared to other crops.
Simon Peter Edoru, Soroti District LCV Chairperson and a citrus farmer, shared his support for the initiative during an interview with this reporter at his office, revealing he has already allocated five acres of land for coffee cultivation. “I am gradually shifting from citrus farming to coffee growing,” Edoru said during a recent sensitisation campaign. He also encouraged farmers to work closely with agricultural extension officers for technical guidance on how to successfully plant and maintain coffee trees.
Paul Eseru, the Resident District Commissioner of Soroti, said he too has dedicated one acre of land to coffee farming after observing the growing profitability of coffee production across the country.
Local farmer Stephen Edyegu, from Agirigiroi village in Arapai Sub-county, said he is expecting a promising harvest from his two acres of maturing coffee and plans to expand his farm by another two acres. “I expect good returns from this season, and I’m convinced coffee offers a more stable market than many other crops,” Edyegu said. He encouraged fellow farmers to embrace the programme, citing minimal price fluctuations and consistent demand.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries [MAAIF], Uganda exported 6.57 million bags of coffee between March 2024 and February 2025, earning US$ 1.72 billion [approximately Shs 6.3 trillion]. This marks a 6.99 percent increase in quantity and a significant 70.71 percent increase in value compared to the 6.14 million bags worth US$ 999.84 million exported during the previous period [March 2023–February 2024].
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