Uganda distributes moisture meters to boost coffee, cocoa quality 

UGANDA – The Ugandan government, through the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA), has distributed 56 moisture meters valued at UGSH 672 million (US$183,124.63) to farmers, processors, and traders.  

The initiative aims to improve the quality of Uganda’s coffee and cocoa, two of the country’s key agricultural exports. 

Of the 56 moisture meters, 38 were provided by UCDA, while 18 were acquired through the European Union-funded Cocoa and Coffee Development Project (CoCoDev).  

The move is part of a broader effort to enhance post-harvest handling and ensure that Uganda’s coffee and cocoa meet international quality standards. 

Fred Bwino Kyakulaga, Uganda’s Minister of State for Agriculture, said, “This government initiative to distribute moisture meters through UCDA is critical in our quest to improve post-harvest handling and quality assurance.

The provision of these moisture meters will enable farmers, processors, and traders to ensure that Uganda coffee and cocoa meet international quality standards.” 

He further noted that maintaining proper moisture levels in coffee and cocoa enhances product integrity, boosts market value, and reduces post-harvest losses, all of which are essential for Uganda to remain competitive in global markets. 

The Minister also commended Uganda’s coffee and cocoa value chain actors, highlighting the country’s growing international recognition for the quality of its products.  

However, he encouraged stakeholders to further elevate Uganda’s coffee industry by producing and exporting more specialty coffees that command premium prices. 

The distributed moisture meters will help ensure compliance with industry regulations, including maintaining moisture levels of less than 14 percent for Fair Average Quality (FAQ) coffee and a maximum of 12.5 percent percent for export-grade coffee. 

Last year, the UCDA distributed 35 wet mills valued at UGSH 2.2 billion (US$599,515.16) to farmer organizations to support high-quality coffee processing.  

UCDA Board member Dr. Kassim emphasized the importance of moisture management, explaining that controlling moisture levels before, during, and after drying can significantly reduce the risk of mold growth and the presence of harmful substances like Ochratoxin A (OTA). 

The initiative aligns with Uganda’s broader goal to quadruple coffee production to 20 million 60-kg bags by 2030, as outlined in the National Coffee Roadmap signed by President Yoweri Museveni in 2017. 

In September, Uganda launched a UGSH10.8 billion (US$2.9M) Coffee and Cocoa Value Chain Development Project (CoCoDev) Matching Grant Scheme that aims to support 134 commercial farmers in enhancing coffee and cocoa production.  

The grantees will add 3,236 acres of coffee and 442 acres of cocoa to Uganda’s production base. 

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