T H E C O F F E E Y E A R B O O K
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UgandaCoffee Federation
F
austaMukundane is a
resident of Kanyegyesha
village, Kashekuro
parish inKitagataSheema
district. Middle aged Fausta
ismarriedwith children.When
we visited shepreferred to
giveus an interviewwith her
Husband, Mr. Rubahimbya,
a secondary school Head
teacher by her side.
Thecouple startedgrowing
coffee in 2004. After the first
harvest they agreed to extend
coffee enterprise adecision
that sawFausta own her
plantationwith the support
of her husband. Today she’s
model farmer with close to 3
acres of coffee.
She attributes her interest in
coffeedue to theprofitability
with the recent handsome
income from the last season
2015/16 that registered
increasedprice for quality
coffee supplied through her
villagecooperative society
which forms part of the
unions under AnkoleCoffee
ProducersCooperative
society.
Faustabeamswitha smile
at each turn of mentioning
ACPCUwhere shecredits the
extension services support
given to her andother group
members that has increased
yields per tree, how to
managepests anddiseases
and ultimately thecooperative
hasmademarketing of
harvest easier andprices
certaincompared to thepast
wheremiddlemenexploited
farmers.
Walking around her coffee
plantation one ismesmerized
by themulching strategy
which shepraises as the
linchpinbehind her health
look of coffee trees
despite harshdry-
spells that destroy
hectares of plants
inplantationswhere
farmers havenot
adopted this good
agronomicpractice.
To supplement her
incomes from coffee,
the householdhave
zerograzingDairy
cows, piggery
andother crops
that caution them
against temptation
to harvest immature
beans or selling
poor dried coffees
due todesperate need
for school fees andother
householdneeds apoint she
is quick to emphasise that
our story should tell so that
other farmers inher areaand
beyondmust take serious for
thegoodof Ugandancoffee.
Whenwe asked her about the
visionof 20mbags by 2020
she said thiswill be achieved
if government quickly arrests
the challenge of climatic
changeputtingwater for
irrigation topof her agenda.
“ Coffee likeany other plant
needs steady supply of water
in order togivemaximum
yield, but we currently can’t
predict rains, therefore in
my viewgovernment should
support uswith technologies
that can support irrigation
systems for small holders
farmers likeme.”
Shealsomentioned
extensions services, need for
compulsory farmer groups,
price stability and increase
as critical drivers of boasting
production.
Faustawasn’t done about
gender in the supply chain.
Sheconfessed that her
husbandhad handed over to
her all theproceeds earned
fromcoffeebusiness of last
season in order toplan and
put it tobetter use of the
enterprise. She attributed
this togood communication
betweenpartners that stems
from sensitization of treating
coffee as a family enterprise.
Whenwewondered if other
womenwould not say she’s
lucky. She sat straight
without this time turning first
look at her husbandand in
direct eye-contact with the
interviewer said “Lookmy
friend, I have twoarms and
two legs, what youcall luck I
call hardwork. Over the years
I havedemonstrated tomy
husband that Amcompetent
andhardworking just like
youwould expect ahired top
manager. I work. “
With such assertiveand
bareknuckle response, it was
time togoon theplantation
visit. And yes, Faustaworks.
