Uganda’s coffee is lauded the world over for its unique attributes and is ranked as one of the best in the world
The Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) has sent out a call for samples for the second edition of the Best of the Pearl Robusta competition 2022. The deadline for submission is August 19, 2022.
In an effort to promote Uganda’s finest coffees and ensure their visibility in the international market, UCDA in partnership with the Uganda Coffee Federation (UCF) and the International Trade Centre (ITC) through the European Union East Africa Market Access Programme (EAC MARKUP), is organizing the Best of the Pearl Robusta Competition to select the best Robusta coffee in Uganda.
According to UCDA, the entries from across the country will be judged by a national and international jury certified by the Coffee Quality Institute (CQI).
Quality is one of the most important variables that influence a coffee’s value. However, many coffee farmers and producers do not have access to the tools and support they need to understand the quality of their coffee, improve that quality, and access markets that reward that quality, ultimately enabling them to make more informed choices.
While Uganda’s coffee is lauded the world over for its unique attributes and is ranked as one of the best in the world, a lot of farmers have not had the opportunity to know how coffee is scored in international markets. Therefore, they miss out on opportunities to improve the quality and produce coffee that can fetch premium prices at the highest level.
“The Best of the Pearl competition, therefore, presents an opportunity for Robusta farmers to have their coffee cupped and judged by a team of local and international judges who will select the very best and give feedback on areas for improvement,” UCDA says in a press statement.
It adds: “UCDA will showcase the winning Robusta coffee at international fairs and an online auction will be held to have them sold to the highest bidder.”
Uganda is the birthplace of Robusta coffee and it is important to raise the profile of the country’s coffee in line with the aspirations of the Coffee Roadmap.
