Kitgum Flags Off Distribution of 125,000 Coffee Seedlings to Farmers

Kitgum District on Wednesday flagged off the distribution of 125,000 Robusta coffee seedlings to farmers as part of a wider government drive to expand coffee growing in northern Uganda.

Speaking during the launch on Wednesday, Uthan Okot, the District Agricultural Officer, said the seedlings are part of a larger consignment allocated to the district under a phased delivery plan.

“We are happy to receive five trucks of coffee seedlings today. Each truck carries about 25,000 seedlings, making roughly 125,000 seedlings in this batch,” Okot said. He noted that the district had initially requested more seedlings but received 430,000 seedlings due to shortages at national level.

Okot said the seedlings, sourced from certified nursery operators, are disease-resistant and will be distributed across all sub-counties, including the municipality. Farmers and local leaders have already undergone training on proper planting and management practices.

He advised farmers to allow the seedlings to recover from transportation stress before planting.

“Farmers should wait at least two to three days before planting, so the seedlings recover. Planting immediately may reduce survival rates,” Okot said.

Denish Ocira, the District Production Officer, described the initiative as a major shift in the region’s agricultural landscape.

“This is the beginning of the coffee revolution in Northern Uganda. Coffee is a new perennial cash crop for this region, and we are now seeing the results of government efforts,” Ocira said.

District Chief Administrative Officer Habib Abubakar said the programme is aimed at improving household incomes and ensuring sustainable livelihoods. He urged farmers to take proper care of the seedlings to avoid losses.

“Farmers should not abandon the seedlings after receiving them. They must follow the training guidelines so that we achieve the intended results,” Abubakar said.

District leaders also called for commitment from farmers, noting that the government had invested significant resources in procuring the seedlings.

Pamela Atoo, the secretary for production, urged communities to plant and maintain the seedlings, warning against repeating past mistakes where distributed crops were neglected.

“Government has invested money to bring these seedlings. When they reach homes, farmers must plant and care for them so that after four to five years, households begin to see income,” Atoo said.

Joseph Okidi, Assistant Resident District Commissioner, praised the timing of the distribution during the rainy season and urged extension workers to closely supervise farmers.

“Coffee production is one of the best ways to fight poverty at household level. We must ensure the seedlings are given to farmers who have already prepared their gardens,” Okidi said.

Some farmers welcomed the programme, saying preparations had already been made to receive the seedlings.

Henry Okello, a farmer from Balakwa Parish, said he had dug planting holes in advance and expects better survival rates this season.

“I prepared the holes in February and waited for the rains. With the current rains, we expect better survival compared to previous seasons when drought affected our seedlings,” Okello said.

District officials said additional batches of seedlings will continue arriving in phases until all allocated consignments are delivered to beneficiaries across the district.