Masaka Farmers Lament Surge of Substandard Coffee Seedlings

Farmers in the Greater Masaka area are calling for stricter oversight of coffee nurseries following a noticeable increase in the availability of inferior seedlings. This issue has led to considerable financial setbacks for many growers.

The recent surge in coffee prices has spurred many individuals to enter coffee cultivation, significantly boosting the demand for seedlings. This demand has been further amplified by government and Buganda Kingdom initiatives encouraging coffee farming and investment across the entire value chain, including the production of planting materials.

According to Ronald Musoke, a coffee farmer from Kyotera District, numerous nurseries lack the necessary technical expertise and are not meeting standards. “Nurseries are sprouting everywhere, and they are established by people without any technical knowledge,” he stated. He recounted an experience where planting two acres with seemingly good seedlings resulted in the discovery, two years later, that they were not the desired variety, causing profound disappointment after significant investment.

Hasifah Nassanga, a farmer in Bukomansimbi, highlighted that many nursery operators bypass the critical step of sourcing buds from certified mother gardens, a requirement for licensing. Instead, they indiscriminately collect buds from various coffee plants, prioritizing quantity over quality. This problem disproportionately affects novice farmers who may struggle to differentiate quality seedlings.

In 2024, the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) attempted to address the issue with a crackdown on substandard nurseries. However, the Greater Masaka Coffee Nursery Operators’ Association advocated for increased sensitization instead of enforcement. Fred Busuulwa, the association’s chairperson, acknowledged a broader “regulatory crisis” and noted that while regulations mandate using mother gardens with varieties from the National Coffee Research Institute (NaCORI), NaCORI itself is underfunded and lacks the capacity to meet the nationwide demand.

Maj Gen David Kyomukama, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, assured that a robust licensing system is in place but conceded that some operators disregard the guidelines. He urged farmers to report any suspected illegal nursery operations to the ministry via local agricultural officers.

Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)