UGANDA – Dr. Emmanuel Iyamulemye, Managing Director at Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA), has unveiled Uganda’s commitment to registering all coffee farmers and establishing a National Traceability System (NTS) in alignment with European Union Regulations on deforestation-free products (EUDR).
According to Iyamulemye, the initiation of a National Coffee Register, as stipulated in the National Coffee Act 2021, will pave the way for the development of a comprehensive NTS, ensuring compliance with EUDR standards.
The register aims to assign unique identifiers and geolocations to coffee farms across the country.
To facilitate this initiative, the Ugandan government, through the Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development, has set aside substantial funding.
Iyamulemye disclosed, “The exercise requires up to US$9.15 million. The Ministry of Finance has committed to providing up to Ugsh13 billion (US$3.35M) in the 2024/25 Financial Year towards farmer registration and the National Traceability System.”
These developments were highlighted during a stakeholder meeting organized by UCDA in collaboration with the International Trade Centre and the Uganda Coffee Federation.
The meeting aimed to validate the National Action Plan for compliance with the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CS3D) and EU regulations on deforestation-free products in the coffee value chain.
In the pursuit of EUDR compliance, Uganda is employing a Territorial Approach (TA) in the short term.
According to Iyamulemye, this approach leverages High-Resolution (HR) maps and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to identify coffee production areas without directly collecting farmer data.
Acknowledging the urgency of compliance, Iyamulemye emphasized ongoing engagements with the EU to adopt the Territorial Approach. He stressed the significance of aligning with EUDR requirements, noting that Uganda’s coffee holds a prominent position in the EU market.
Robert Nangatsa, Extension Manager at UCDA, underscored the transformative potential of the Traceability System, anticipating significant changes in the coffee sub-sector’s trading dynamics.
As Uganda progresses towards EUDR compliance, it aligns with the European Parliament’s Deforestation Regulation, which mandates deforestation-free products in EU supply chains starting January 1, 2025.
This regulation underscores the imperative for exporters to adhere to stringent criteria to access the lucrative EU market.
Furthermore, the EU’s CS3D directive mandates companies to conduct due diligence to mitigate human rights abuses and environmental damage in global value chains, reinforcing the commitment to sustainable practices across industries.
The announcement comes recently after the African Union (AU) identified coffee as a strategic crop for Africa, aiming to boost farmer income and revenue.
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