Hima Cement signs MOU to extend coffee project to Kamwenge

Kamwenge District will benefit from the 14,200,000 coffee seedlings valued at 2 billion committed by Hima Cement in Kasese district launch event last month.  This will benefit 45,000 farmers in the two districts. In this community project, Hima is in partnership with Uganda Coffee Development Authority, Kamwenge District Local Government and Kasese District Farmers Organization.  

While signing the MOU, the representative of Kamwenge District Farmer’s Organization (KADIFO), Mr. John Byoruganda said that “as one of the districts with a history of coffee growing in Uganda, they are grateful to Hima Cement for reviving this glory and helping the farmers to improve their incomes and boost their welfare.”

“Hima’s boost to the farmers is indeed timely because the tough economic times have left many households with insufficient incomes to survive; and as farmers, we appreciate the support given by Hima cement and pledge to work hard and ensure that we get good yields”, said Byoruganda 

Approximately 60,000 households in Kasese alone depend on coffee growing as their main source of income, and yet the majority of these farmers struggle to earn a sustainable livelihood because of the weakening cycle of the market disadvantages and poverty.

“I want to urge the community- especially coffee farmers, to take advantage of this opportunity given to us by Hima Cement- the climate here is favorable for coffee growing and we have the land”, said Mr. Robert Kamasaka chairman LC V Kamwenge District.

“Hima has given us a starting point towards economic empowerment and ultimately, the ball lies with us to work harder and ensure that we produce good yields.”

In April, 2012, Hima Cement launched a two billion coffee project where they will avail coffee seedlings to farmers in order to boost their in comes, increase coffee production and ensure that farmers have a ready market for the produce.