Strengthening Organic Coffee Production: Uganda

Project Details 

Shared Interest Foundation recently assessed that smallholder farmers earn an average of £28 per month in Uganda. This amount is insufficient to meet household needs, despite coffee being the primary source of income. The challenge of income stability has been further exacerbated by climate change, leading to declining soil fertility and a rapid increase in pests and diseases.

In order to address these issues, this project will partner with Bukonzo Organic Co-operative Union. The 14-month plan will build Bukonzo’s capacity to produce an innovative liquid fertiliser, ensuring that 4,102 farmers can access this input at a low cost. This will increase coffee yields and allow farmers to meet general household needs.

Additionally, the knowledge acquired by Bukonzo staff and the lead farmers of this project will ensure all farmers can develop sustainably and independently, a crucial aspect to maintaining progress in the coffee industry. This will also be supported by Bukonzo’s reinvestment of income generated by fertiliser sales for ongoing production.

Aims of this project include:

• Building Bukonzo’s in-house capacity to produce an innovative, enzyme-based organic liquid fertiliser.
• Providing Bukonzo’s 4,102 members access to this affordable fertiliser.
• Increase organic coffee yields and strengthen farmer resilience.