New Bukumbi coffee factory in Bukuku Karago town council Kabarole district has entered into a partnership with government to export processed coffee from the Rwenzori region.
Rtd Gen Salim Saleh, the Chief Coordinator Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) who has pitched camp in Fort Portal visited a number of coffee farmer groups in Kabarole.
David Baingana, the director of New Bukumbi coffee factory told Gen Saleh that farmers have already been mobilized into groups to be able to maintain a steady supply of coffee to the factory.
“We currently have a total of 32 organic coffee farmer associations in the district of Kabarole. These farmers have a capacity of producing over 700 tons of coffee per season” Baingana said.
Baingana was happy to note that most farmers have understood the benefits of forming and belonging to groups and associations.
“We need working capital to be able to purchase all the coffee from the groups and also to upgrade our factory to be able to produce a fine product ready for export” Baingana said.
Gen Saleh appreciated the idea of farmers’ association groups and also expressed government’s willingness to support them.
Gen Saleh noted that with the existence of farmers’ associations, government can confidently support sustainably,” Gen Saleh said.
“As government, we are going to give you maximum support because you already have got the setting of the factory and also a microfinance system within the farmers’ associations. You are therefore ready for value addition,” Gen Saleh said.
He urged the farmers to remain trustworthy and to also increase on their coffee acreage as one way of increasing their production.
“We shall work with New Bukumbi on the microfinance side and on the management of the output because I can see you are a very serious group,” Gen Saleh assured farmers.
