Uganda reaffirms commitment to coffee quality, pesticide safety
UGANDA – Uganda’s Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries (MAAIF) has emphasized that all regulatory measures previously under the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) remain in effect, warning that penalties will be imposed on those violating coffee quality standards.
This follows the Rationalisation of Government Agencies and Expenditure (RAPEX) program, which has led to the restructuring of various regulatory bodies.
Maj. Gen. David Kasura-Kyomukama, Permanent Secretary at MAAIF, expressed concern over reports of premature coffee harvesting and poor drying practices, stating that such issues compromise the quality and value of Uganda’s coffee exports.
He reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to preserving the country’s strong position in the global coffee market through strict enforcement of quality standards.
The Ministry urged all stakeholders, including coffee farmers, traders, and processors, to adhere to best agronomic and post-harvest practices. Any violations, Kasura-Kyomukama warned, would be met with strict enforcement measures.
Additionally, the public has been encouraged to report substandard agronomic and harvesting practices to the Assistant Commissioner for Coffee Production at 0312 260470 to help maintain the country’s coffee export reputation.
Uganda’s coffee exports continue to perform strongly, with 413,221 60-kg bags valued at US$115.02 million exported in December 2022. This marked an increase from the 400,536 bags worth US$108.91 million exported in November.
The country remains a key supplier to major international markets, including Italy, Germany, the USA, China, India, Algeria, and Morocco.
Meanwhile, in response to a civil society organization (CSO) report titled Hazardous Pesticides: The Silent Killer in Uganda, Kasura-Kyomukama refuted claims that Uganda lacks adequate pesticide regulations.
He affirmed that the country operates under a robust framework, including the Agricultural Chemicals (Control) Act (2006) and the National Agrochemicals Register.
He highlighted the essential role of pesticides in controlling pests and diseases in agriculture, warning that banning key pesticides such as Glyphosate and Chlorpyrifos without viable alternatives could result in massive crop losses, food insecurity, and economic setbacks for farmers.
To enhance pesticide safety and enforcement, MAAIF outlined several measures, including collaborating with the Agriculture Police, Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), National Drug Authority (NDA), and local governments to combat counterfeit pesticides.
The Ministry is also finalizing legal amendments to target fake pesticides and unapproved active ingredients.
Additionally, quality checks in agricultural produce are being conducted in partnership with the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS).
More than 2,500 agrochemical dealers and extension workers have received training on safe pesticide use and counterfeit detection. Efforts are also underway to expand laboratory infrastructure for pesticide residue analysis and product verification.
To address concerns over Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs), Uganda is actively reviewing Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies to reduce reliance on synthetic pesticides.
A special agro-chemicals committee has also been established to assess potentially harmful pesticides for possible phase-out.
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