Uganda has until 31st December 2024 to demonstrate that all coffee exports to the European Union market are deforestation-free and traceable to the farmer.
The Uganda Coffee Development Authority has already established a coffee registry as a precursor to the national coffee traceability system.
The government is expected to increase funding for mapping activities using GPS coordinates for all coffee farmers or risk losing 60% of its coffee market.
Speaking during a stakeholders’ dialogue organised by SEATINI at Hotel Africana spoke of strategies to meet the standards.
“The regulation requires that we trace our coffee from the garden to the market, which means we must know who is producing the coffee, where are they located, which coffee are they growing and this requires us to file a due diligence certificate. So, for those exporting coffee, they must file a due diligence certificate which shows their location in terms of GPS coordinates,” Dr Gerald Kyaalo, Director of Development Services at UCDA said.
“If you have more than 10 acres of land you shall require a polygon map. A polygon is kind of the entire drawing of your garden and if you have less than 10 acres we require, one GPS point is mandatory for us to access the European Union market.”
Christine Kaaya Nakimwero, the Shadow Minister for Water and Environment, advised UCDA to prioritize educating all farmers on the benefits of the new regulations to avoid misconceptions.
She emphasized the importance of inclusivity, particularly for small-scale coffee farmers.
“As we navigate the new EU directives, it is crucial we ensure every coffee farmer understands its impact. Transparency and education will empower them to thrive,” she said.
“We need to be clear on the relationship between the database and taxation of farmers to avoid any misconceptions that could drive them away from compliance.”
Herbert Kafeero Programs and Communications Manager at SEATINI Uganda explained the importance of the new regulations to Uganda.