Farmers in Kyesiiga Sub-county have expressed joy after receiving improved coffee seedlings under the implementation of the Katikkiro of Buganda's "Emmwanyi Terimba" campaign aimed at promoting coffee growing and improving household incomes.
The initiative, spearheaded by Charles Peter Mayiga, seeks to encourage communities to embrace coffee farming as a key commercial agricultural activity in Buganda, with a focus on increasing production and improving household livelihoods.
However, officials noted that many willing farmers have previously been unable to access quality seedlings due to limited resources, prompting government support to bridge the gap.
Under the programme, hundreds of farmers in Kyesiiga Sub-county, Masaka District received improved coffee seedlings estimated at thousands of plants, delivered through government support and coordinated agricultural programmes.
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The seedlings were delivered with support linked to former Vice President Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi, as part of efforts to strengthen coffee production in the area.
While handing over the seedlings, Oscar Mutebi, the assistant to Ssekandi, urged farmers to take good care of the seedlings in order to benefit from the programme.
"We are asking farmers to take good care of these seedlings. Do not sell them. If you do, you will lose the opportunity to fight household poverty," Mutebi said.
He added that coffee farming remains one of the most reliable sources of income in the area and urged farmers to remain committed.
"People in Kyesiiga are strongly depending on coffee. That is why we continue to support them so they can improve their livelihoods," he said.
Mutebi also called for continued government support, saying demand for seedlings is still high.
"There is still a big gap. We need more seedlings because many farmers are still willing but cannot access them," he added.
He further warned residents against mixing development programmes with politics, saying it delays progress.
"Let us not mix politics with development. If we do, our community will not move forward," Mutebi cautioned.
Agricultural extension worker Josrph Ssimbwa said all beneficiaries had been trained in proper coffee management practices including spacing, mulching, pest control and pruning.
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"All farmers who received seedlings were trained. We expect them to follow proper guidelines so that the coffee can survive and produce well," Ssimbwa said.
Kyesiiga Sub-county chairperson Mikidadi Lusiba urged residents to take full responsibility of the seedlings, warning against negligence and misuse of government support.
"These seedlings are very expensive. Government has invested a lot of money, so farmers must take care of them," Lusiba said.
He also appealed for additional government support in form of fertilizers and pesticides to boost production and control coffee pests.
"We request government to support farmers with fertilizers and pesticides so that yields can increase and pests can be controlled," he added.
Some of the youth who benefited from the programme urged their peers to abandon idle habits and embrace agriculture as a source of income.
"We encourage our fellow youth to stop wasting time and instead use land productively. Coffee farming can change our lives," one of the beneficiaries said.
Residents also praised government and local leaders for the continued support towards agricultural development, saying it has improved household incomes and boosted confidence in coffee farming.
"We thank leaders like Ssekandi for always remembering us. This support has given us hope," a farmer said.
Farmers in Kyesiiga say the "Emmwanyi Terimba" initiative has renewed hope in coffee farming, but they continue to appeal for more seedlings, farm inputs, and extension support to fully benefit from the programme and improve their livelihoods.
