Building the Resilience of Coffee Farmers in western Uganda through Agroforestry: End of Project report

This one-year project, launched in April 2023 in partnership with Ugandan coffee co-operative Banyankole Coffee Services (BCS), supported 300 coffee farmers to increase their climate resilience through implementing agroforestry activities.

Training in agroforestry, climate resilience and eco-friendly farming practices

Delivered in May 2023, all farmers received training in agroforestry, climate resilience and eco-friendly farming practices from a District Environment and Entomologist Officer and an agronomist who was recruited to support the implementation of this project.

Training topics included the importance of integrating shade trees with coffee trees, agroforestry tree planting techniques and tree maintenance. Farmers visited farms where the coffee trees were growing well in the presence of shade trees, compared to farms which lacked any shade trees to highlight the benefits of agroforestry.

The training also focussed on climate smart farming practices to support coffee production. Through practical demonstrations, farmers were taught how to stump and prune an old tree to improve productivity, mulching techniques to conserve soil quality and reduce erosion and methods to control weeds.

To encourage the farmers to implement eco-friendly farming practices, they were taught how to produce organic fertilisers using locally available materials to support their coffee production and reduce soil contamination.

Training in agri-business management

Delivered in October 2023, this training focussed on supporting the farmers to manage their coffee farm as a business to facilitate its sustainable growth. Topics covered included how to maintain accurate production records, budgeting and business planning according to the coffee production cycle.

Distribution of agroforestry trees and coffee seedlings

In September 2023, the 300 participating farmers received coffee seedlings and agroforestry seedlings to plant on their farm. The number of seedlings received by each farmer was determined by the size of their farm and number of aging and unproductive trees. In total 12,000 coffee seedlings and 4,300 agroforestry trees were distributed. Initial reports from the agronomist indicated that over 90% of the seedlings survived the transfer and were growing well. However, after a period of high temperatures and no rain, by the end of the project this had reduced to 80% of coffee seedlings and 75% of agroforestry trees surviving and growing well.

Distribution of agroforestry tools and equipment

Banyankole identified 210 farmers who did not have adequate tools to enable them to properly maintain the newly planted coffee seedlings and shade trees. Many had been pruning their trees using a panga which can take several slices before the branches are cut off leaving small cuts which increase risk of infection from pests and disease. To reduce this risk and support the implementation of GAP, 105 pruning saws and 105 secateurs were distributed to be managed by the farmers in groups of two. 

Outcomes Achieved

All 300 farmers who participated in this project were surveyed as part of the baseline and end evaluation data collection. Check out their achievements below.

Project Beneficiary: Jackson Mvyambi

Jackson has been a coffee farmer since 1996. Discussing his reasons for joining Banyankole Coffee Services, he said:

“When we co-operate we learn more, we produce more and we have a bigger voice”.

 Jackson manages a 1.5 acre coffee farm which he has intercropped with mangoes, bananas and passion fruits for additional income. Prior to this project, Jackson was experiencing challenges of coffee wilt from intense exposure to sunlight and fast absorption of water from the soil which was impacting upon his yield.

Through this project, Jackson received 10 agroforestry trees to plant among his coffee trees. When fully grown, each agroforestry tree will provide shade to 40 coffee trees. In addition, Jackson was provided with 40 disease resistant coffee seedlings to replace some of his aging trees. He also received a pruning saw and secateurs to support with coffee harvesting and tree maintenance.

Through training, he has been able to plant and maintain his agroforestry trees (image below shows agroforestry tree surrounded in mulch for improved water retention) and also implement better farming practices across his coffee farm. In addition to providing shade, Jackson told us how he will use the fallen leaves from the agro-forestry tree as mulch for their coffee plants. Jackson anticipates to start harvesting coffee from his newly planted trees in three to four years, but is hoping to see an improvement in yield from his current trees during the next harvest.

BCS estimate that the provision of 9,600 surviving coffee trees will yield an estimated 60 metric tonnes of coffee starting in 2026, which will have a sales value of approximately 720,000,000 UGX (£150,967). This increase in sales will support the sustainable growth of the organisation.

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