Improving coffee farmers’ lives in Uganda through certification
Thousands of coffee farmers in remote areas of Uganda saw their earnings increase and were able to improve their lives and face basic needs through certification and digital training. These tools gave them access to markets, where they could sell their coffee at fairer prices.
This was one of the outcomes of a technical assistance project supported by SSNUP and implemented by Oikocredit. The project involved Agri Evolve Uganda, a family-run agribusiness operating in the country that sources, processes and exports specialty coffee, while providing services to coffee farming communities and promoting sustainable coffee farming. The goal was to help Agri Evolve to recruit farmers in remote, high-altitude areas with high-quality coffee potential, and give them a more direct access to markets.
As a result, the project enabled Agri Evolve to extend its supply base by 13,856 smallholder farmers. These farmers were provided with digital training on topics such as financial literacy, pest management, soil and water conservation, and good agricultural practices. Furthermore, over 12,070 farmers obtained Rainforest Alliance and organic certification, allowing them to improve their practices and expand their activity. Consequently, 65% of the farmers reported higher earnings.
Read the detailed project results
In a survey commissioned by SSNUP to measure the impact of the project, the majority of the smallholder farmers considered that Agri Evolve improved their lives giving them more certainty to face their basic needs. A farmer explained: “Thanks to the market access through Agri Evolve, I earn good money due to their fair prices. This income allows me to meet my family’s needs, including clothes, food, and other essentials. Paying school fees for my children is no longer a hassle because of the good prices from Agri Evolve, which have enabled me to earn well and cover these expenses”.