This file photo shows the Arabica coffee grown in Mbale in east Uganda. (Xinhua)
Uganda's coffee regulatory body says the value of the East African nation's coffee export during the past 12 months expanded 35 percent year on year due to the commodity's higher quality.
KAMPALA, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- The value of Uganda's coffee export expanded 35 percent in the past 12 months, a new report by the country's coffee regulatory body said Wednesday.
The report issued by the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) said even though the quantity of the country's coffee exports decreased, the exchange earnings increased due to the higher quality of the exported coffee during the period under review from November 2021 to October 2022.
According to the report, coffee exports totaled 5.83 million bags worth 883.24 million U.S. dollars compared to 6.55 million bags worth 652.50 million dollars in the previous year (November 2020 to October 2021).
The UCDA said the decrease in exports was due to lower yields characterized by drought in most parts of the country, while the high quality was attributed to farmer training on best handling practices.
This file photo shows the Arabica coffee grown in Mbale in east Uganda. (Xinhua)
"The coffee processors and traders were trained on the best coffee post-harvest handling practices such as hulling of dry coffee of 13 percent moisture content, rejecting wet coffee from farmers, good store hygiene and avoiding coffee adulteration. Routine factory inspection and monitoring were carried out in all the regions," the report said.
Europe remains the main destination, and Mexico is an emerging market for the country's coffee export, the report added.
Coffee is one of the major commodities prioritized by Uganda to boost economic transformation. According to the UCDA, about 1.7 million households in the country depend on coffee production. ■
