BY ISAAC MUMBERE
Poverty has been cited as one of the major causes affecting the production and quality of coffee and other cash crops in Kasese district and the Rwenzori sub-region at large.
The observation was made today afternoon by Mr. Julius Rukara, the Kasese District Agricultural Officer while sensitizing the different coffee stakeholders from greater Kisinga Sub-county at Mavale Resort Gardens in Kisinga Town Council, Bukonzo County East.
Mr. Rukara explained that most farmers had taken themselves to be poor hence ending up harvesting unripe coffee cherries and other related cash crops including cocoa.
He stressed that the act does not only compromise the quality of coffee but also affects the prices, warning middlemen against the practice of luring farmers to harvest their cash crops when they are not yet ready.
He urged the local authorities to implement the Coffee Act, 2021 that restricts the farmers from either harvesting unripe coffee cherries or use the poor post-handling methods.
Ms Joseless Biira, the Agricultural Extension Worker for Kisinga Sub-county, asked the coffee buyers to follow the regulations issued by government.
Mr. Julius Mukeri, the Kisinga Sub-county Chairperson, reported that together with his fellow leaders from the greater Kisinga, they had started hunting for the people who are mishandling coffee, asking the residents to join their campaign so that the culprits are brought to book.
ENDS