Training Ugandan coffee farmers on agronomy practices more than pays for itself

By Vivian Hoffmann

August 5, 2024

Average crop yields in much of Africa lag far below their agronomic potential. This is the case for coffee grown by smallholders in Uganda-agronomy experts estimate they could more than double their yields by applying optimal management practices. Increased coffee production is a key strategy of the government of Uganda for boosting both national earnings of foreign exchange and improving the livelihoods of the country's 1.8 million small-scale coffee farmers, who produce nearly all of the country's coffee.

A new IFPRI study finds that providing agronomy training to farmer groups and disseminating recommendations via mobile phone can be a cost-effective way of achieving this target.