Kanungu: Coffee farmers cry over unreliable power

NAKABUYE SHEILAH

Coffee farmers in Kanungu district have said their quest to add value to their products has been frustrated by unreliable power supply in the area.

The farmers claimed that they have the capacity to add value in coffee to be able to earn more money, but the limited power supply is frustrating their efforts.

The young coffee farmers said despite finding avenues of eliminating constraints like skills development with the help of entities like Farm Africa, adding value to products like coffee requires reliable power supply, which is still a challenge.

Even after investing in roasting machines, which turn the green coffee into roasted beans ready for consumption, this has become difficult due to power outages.

The chairman Kanungu district Young Farmers Association Joshua Rukundo said the farmers formed groups with hope of pulling resources together to support the youth.

"We are looking at attracting majority youth into coffee growing, which in turn is expected to increase coffee production," Rukundo said.

Sam Viney, the communications and advocacy officer for Farm Africa that even as they encourage more people to grow coffee, farmers’ associations need the help of government or else their businesses will close.