A five-day intensive training program from 10th to 15th June 2024 on Coffee Improvement, Production, and Protection concluded last week in the conference room of the School of Food Technology, Nutrition, and Bio-Engineering at Makerere University, equipping participants with modern techniques to boost Uganda’s coffee sector. Organised by the ROBUST project, the course brought together farmers, agronomists, and researchers to explore sustainable solutions for enhancing coffee yields in the face of climate challenges.

Hands-On Learning for a Thriving Coffee Industry

Held at the School of Food Technology, Nutrition & Bio-Engineering, the training covered:

• Optimal Farming Practices: Site selection, shade tree integration, and soil conservation.

• Pest & Disease Control: Biological pesticides, resistant coffee varieties, and early disease detection.

• Climate Adaptation: Agroforestry and mixed cropping to combat rising temperatures.

• Tech-Driven Research: GIS mapping and drought-resistant coffee trials at NaCORI.

Why This Matters

Uganda is Africa’s second-largest coffee exporter, but pests and climate change threaten production. This course bridged the gap between research and fieldwork, ensuring farmers adopt science-backed methods for higher-quality harvests.

Dr. John Mugabo, a participant, noted: “Learning to use biopesticides and agroforestry will cut costs and increase my farm’s resilience.”

Next Steps

With certificates awarded to 35 attendees, the ROBUST project aims to expand such training nationwide, supporting Uganda’s target of 20 million coffee bags annually by 2025.