Frank Tumwebaze addressing coffee stakeholders in Kampala last Friday.
The Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries, Frank Tumwebaze, has called on coffee stakeholders to remain calm as Uganda races to meet the European Union Regulation for Deforestation-free Products (EUDR) and Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive requirements.
On 5th December 2022, the European Union (EU) Parliament approved the EU Regulation for deforestation-free products (EUDR) to ensure supply chains remain free from products that cause deforestation.
The deforestation regulation which goes into effect from 30th December 2024 requires that exporters of commodities such as coffee, cocoa and their derivatives submit specific documentations to export to the EU market.
This means that Uganda has less than four months to register all coffee farmers and other stakeholders along the entire coffee value chain. This will form the National Coffee Traceability System.
In a meeting with coffee stakeholders held at Mestil Hotel in Kampala on Friday Tumwebaze urged the stakeholders not to panic over EU’s regulatory demands.
“There is no need to panic. 99% of our gardens comply. It is just knowing the processes to go through to comply. The EU isn’t here to fail us; otherwise, they will fail themselves. We all want to benefit from this coffee,” said Tumwebaze before opening the floor for discussion.
He, however, appealed to coffee stakeholders to look at alternative markets as EU issues drag on.
The EU Program Manager, speaking on behalf of the European Union, clarified that the goal of these regulations is to protect the environment while ensuring that African coffee producers, including those in Uganda, continue to access the European market. He stressed the importance of farmer registration and robust traceability systems to comply with the new standards, encouraging stakeholders to expedite these efforts.
Odrek Rwabogo, Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Exports and Industrial Development (PACEID), echoed the importance of accurate data collection and its role in maintaining market reliability. He highlighted challenges in the collection and management of agricultural data across sectors and called for a concerted effort to strengthen these systems.
One of the key takeaways from the meeting was the urgent need to register 500,000 coffee farmers by the end of the year. This process, essential for meeting the EU’s traceability standards, will involve close coordination between MAAIF, UCDA, local governments, and other stakeholders.
The meeting concluded with actionable plans to create awareness about the regulations, register farmers, and ensure compliance through improved data management systems.
While responding to the issue of alternative markets, Robert Byaruhanga, the Managing Director of Funzo Coffee, argued that over 60% of Uganda’s coffee goes to EU countries.
“For multinationals to change that, it may not be easy,” argued Byaruhanga. He added that the EU market access started in the late 1990s when the coffee marketing board collapsed, paving the way for private companies, whom he said came with better and more competitive pricing as well as prompt pay.
Former Agriculture Minister, Victoria Ssekitoleko appealed to the minister to have players in the maize, simsim, soya beans, and others registered as well.
“Use this opportunity to register everybody. Other sectors too are threatened. Once you start registering everybody, coffee farmers will stop thinking that you are targeting them for URA,” said Ssekitoleko.
Robert Kabushenga of Rugyeyo Farm confessed to having turned away from opposing registration of coffee farmers. ‘Registration is essential, with or without EUDR,” said Kabushenga. “Setting prices is dependent on where this coffee is coming from. This is for their (farmers’) own good.”
He, however, noted that the initiative lacks political leadership. “These farmers believe in their political leadership. This registration is essential and good for their voters,” Kabushenga said, appealing to Tumwebaze to ensure that political leaders urge their voters to accept to be registered.
He, however, added that the farmers need to be reassured that the registration is for their own good, not about taxation. According to Kabushenga, Brazil and Columbia are interested in filling the EU gap should Uganda fail to comply.
Tumwebaze assured stakeholders of the government’s full support as they work towards meeting the EU’s requirements and safeguarding Uganda’s coffee exports.
This engagement marks a crucial step in maintaining Uganda’s strong position in the international coffee market and ensuring that the livelihoods of coffee farmers are protected under the new EU regulations.
This is great, but in order to incentivise, finance the farmers, and off-set the increased costs of implementing the EUDR, will there be a premium price for the coffee? Of how much?
This is an important step for convincing farmers and the society at large they are not being crushed into submission by a foreing entity that will exploit them and change the rules of the game whenever they want.
Good