22/07/2019
By Hon Kibanzanga Christopher
NO LICENCING OF FARMERS UNDER THE NATIONAL COFFEE BILL 2018
The National Coffee Bill 2018 which was recently presented to the Parliamentary committee on Agriculture by the Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Hon. Vincent Bamulangaki Ssempijja has no single clause on licencing of coffee farmers like it is being reported in media.
The Bill under Part IV, clauses 26,27 and 28, only seeks to register coffee farmers across the country. The Authority under these clauses will use information from the national coffee register to;
(a) Facilitate the provision of extension services to coffee farmers individually or through farmer groups. These extension services include:
-Seed gardens and seed management
-Good Agricultural practices
-Disease and pest management control
-Harvest and post-harvest handling
(b) The basis for planning and making appropriate estimates for the services that are critical for coffee production and productivity such as inputs, extension services, assessment and provision of farmers credit requirements
(c) Data capture and maintenance-Economic market trends: Traceability/source of the product: the buyers/consumers want to know where the coffee they consume comes from, who produces it and what farming practices do they employ.
HOW WILL THE SMALLHOLDER FARMERS BENEFIT FROM REGISTRATION?
All coffee farmers who are registered will benefit from the following;
(a) Provision of extension and other services
(b) Improved yields and good quality coffee resulting from the above
(c) Protection from exploitation from unscrupulous sector players by linking the farmers to the buyers directly
(d) Accessibility of inputs e.g fertilizers, planting materials etc
(e) Mobilisation into farmer groups, cooperatives and or associations
(f) Linkages for accessibility of affordable credit to the farmers
WHAT COST IS THE FARMER LIKELY TO MEET DURING THIS REGISTRATION?
Registration of all farmers shall be free as indicated under clause 27(4). UCDA or its representatives in liaison with other Government entities shall carry out this registration.
WHO WILL BE LICENCED UNDER CLAUSE 35 OF THIS BILL?
The Authority shall on application, issue the following licenses upon such terms and conditions as the Authority thinks fit-
(a) A pulpery operator`s licence
(b) A coffee buyer licence
(c) A coffee grading licence for internal marketing
(d) A coffee processor`s licence
(e) A coffee exporter`s licence
(f) A coffee roaster`s licence
(g) A brewers and operator of a coffee shop operator`s licence
(h) A coffee store or warehouse operator`s licence
(i) A coffee huller operator`s licence
A person shall not operate a pulpery, buy coffee, grade coffee for internal marketing, roast coffee, brew and operate a coffee shop or coffee store, operate a warehouse or coffee huller or process or export coffee on a commercial basis without a licence issued by the Authority.
Where the Authority refuses to issue a licence to an applicant, the applicant shall be informed in writing stating the reasons for the refusal.
This is therefore to show or prove that NO FARMER whatsoever will be licenced. The licencing like you all have known now will be for these categories;
(a) A pulpery operator`s licence
(b) A coffee buyer licence
(c) A coffee grading licence for internal marketing
(d) A coffee processor`s licence
(e) A coffee exporter`s licence
(f) A coffee roaster`s licence
(g) A brewers and operator of a coffee shop operator`s licence
(h) A coffee store or warehouse operator`s licence
(i) A coffee huller operator`s licence
And as Government, we believe this is good for all the players; i.e. the farmer, the business/middleman and Government.
