Buruuli cultural leader champions coffee farming to diversify incomes in Nakasongola
What you need to know:
- Buruuli Cultural Institution is working with partner organizations to support farmers in adopting climate-smart agricultural practices, including the installation of irrigation systems in areas prone to dry spells.
The Buruuli Cultural Institution has embarked on a campaign to promote coffee farming as an alternative income-generating enterprise for farmers in Nakasongola District, a region traditionally dominated by livestock farming.
The initiative, spearheaded by the Isabaruli (King) Mwogezi Butamanya, is targeting sub-counties with favorable conditions for coffee growing, including Kakooge, Kalongo, Kalungi, and Wabinyonyi. The move comes amid increasing environmental challenges in the cattle corridor district, including deforestation for charcoal burning and the impact of a semi-arid climate, which have put pressure on household incomes.
According to Ms Sarah Nakamya, the District Production Officer, coffee farming offers a sustainable option for the communities adapting to the effects of climate change.
“We welcome the initiative by our cultural leaders led by Isabaruli Mwogezi Butamanya to champion the coffee crop production in subcounties where the climate is favorable. The areas where pilot coffee planting is taking place have soils good for coffee production with several of the farmers already engaged in small scale production of the coffee crop,” she said on May 11.
The Isabaruli emphasized that while some farmers are already familiar with coffee, the campaign encourages them to expand into commercial production, targeting at least five acres per household to tap into the lucrative global coffee market.
“Our target as Buruuli Cultural Institution is to see our people engage in money-generating enterprises that can boost home incomes. We have singled out the coffee crop where we are helping the farmers engage in commercial production targeting at least 5 acres. We also encourage the farmers to grow fruit trees including the mangoes,” he said.
He further explained that the Buruuli Cultural Institution is working with partner organizations to support farmers in adopting climate-smart agricultural practices, including the installation of irrigation systems in areas prone to dry spells.
“The coffee crop currently fetches good prices on the World Market,” the Isabaruli said while launching the coffee farming programme at Kyampisi Parish in Kakooge Sub-county.
Despite its reputation as a livestock farming district, Nakasongola has a significant crop farming community, particularly in the targeted sub-counties. Mr Gordon Musinguzi, the Assistant Resident District Commissioner, noted that crop farming remains a backbone of the district’s economy and supports the livestock industry.
“Crop farming is not new in Nakasongola District. About half of the population of Nakasongola District is engaged in crop production. We have farmers that grow cassava, sweet potatoes, and beans among many other crops. The coffee crop is properly harnessed and will be an additional money generation enterprise,” he said.
District statistics show that over 60 percent of the population is engaged in crop farming, with Kalongo, Wabinyonyi, Kakooge, and Kalungi sub-counties producing most of the district’s food. Meanwhile, areas like Nabiwera, Lwampanga, Nakitoma, Lwabyata, and Migyeera Town Council remain predominantly livestock farming zones.
