Uganda is making significant strides in meeting the European Union’s deforestation-free commodities regulations, with over 1.7 million coffee farmers now registered in the National Data Warehouse.
The initiative is part of the country’s broader strategy to maintain access to the EU market, currently the top destination for Uganda’s coffee exports, before the December 31st compliance deadline.
The nationwide coffee farmer registration drive was launched in October by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), in collaboration with various stakeholders.
The exercise is a critical requirement under the EU’s new regulations, which aim to prevent the sale of products linked to deforestation.
As part of the process, each farmer receives a unique identification code that certifies their coffee was not cultivated on deforested land.
The codes, linked to GPS coordinates, help trace the origin of coffee from the plantation to the final market.
Reuben Keimusya, Assistant Commissioner for Coffee Production at MAAIF, confirmed that data for 1.2 million farmers has already been uploaded into the system.
He notes that the current figures indicate a substantial increase in the number of coffee farmers compared to the 2017 baseline, which previously guided agricultural policy and planning.
Keimusya is confident Uganda will meet its target of registering 2.8 million farmers by year’s end.
Beyond compliance, he says the registration process presents a valuable opportunity to update the national farmers’ database, a move expected to enhance future planning and resource allocation.
“Uganda is ahead of many other African nations in complying with the EU’s deforestation-free regulations. This positions us well to retain and expand our market access,” Keimusya emphasized.
In Kalungu District, Umar Kayizzi, Chairperson of the Lusango Coffee Farmers’ Cooperative Society, noted growing support for the initiative.
He credited local leaders for helping dispel initial misconceptions about the registration process, which had hindered participation in the early stages.
Momentum is expected to increase further, with the Uganda Coffee Value Chain Taskforce this week beginning to pilot two digital traceability systems.
These platforms are designed to support compliance with EU regulations by enhancing the transparency and accountability of Uganda’s coffee supply chain.
As the December deadline approaches, Uganda’s proactive approach and early successes offer a promising model for other commodity-exporting nations facing similar regulatory challenges.
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