The Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Frank Tumwebaze, has emphasized the importance of national coffee registration for maintaining access to the European Union (EU) market. With over 60% of Uganda’s coffee exports going to the EU, compliance with EU regulations is crucial.
The EU’s Deforestation Regulation, set to take effect on December 30, 2024, requires Uganda to prove its coffee is produced sustainably. To achieve this, the government has allocated resources to register all coffee farmers and implement a National Traceability System.
Minister Tumwebaze has urged coffee farmers to participate in the registration process, which is expected to enhance sustainability, improve market access, and ensure regulatory compliance. The registration exercise is being conducted by the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) and partners.
The benefits of national coffee registration include improved market access, ensuring continued access to the EU market, Uganda’s largest coffee export destination.
“It also promotes enhanced sustainability by encouraging environmentally friendly coffee production practices,” Tumwebaze said—adding that registration ensures regulatory compliance with the EU’s Deforestation Regulation requirements and provides increased transparency through traceability of coffee from farm to market.
By registering, coffee farmers will contribute to Uganda’s efforts to maintain its competitive edge in the global coffee market. “We have to show that there’s something we are doing to comply with EUDR requirements,” he said.
Uganda is the 7th largest coffee producer globally and 2nd largest in Africa, with approximately 1.8 million smallholder farmers cultivating coffee on 353,907 hectares of land. Coffee exports for the twelve months of the financial year 2023/24 totaled 6.13 million bags worth $1.14 billion.
The registration process will capture geolocation data for all production plots where coffee or related products are cultivated.
A team of enumerators will carry out the registration process on behalf of UCDA and industry players.
Minister Tumwebaze appealed to all leaders, coffee value chain actors, and district local government leaders to support this registration exercise. He emphasized that this is a win for all.
The government has allocated resources for registration, with funding support from Development Partners and mobilization efforts by Civil Society organizations.
