Rukungiri District Local Government has distributed 236 bags of fertilizer (25kg each) and 200 bottles of liquid fertilizer (500ml each) to selected coffee model farmers across the district in a move aimed at boosting coffee production.

The initiative, which took place at the Rukungiri District Headquarters, benefited four farmers from each of the district’s nine sub-counties: Bugangari, Kebisoni, Ruhinda, Nyakagyeme, Buyanja, Buhunga, Bwambara, Nyarushanje, and Nyakishenyi.

The distribution was supported by the Development Fund and was attended by key officials, including Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Steven Nsubuga Bewayo, District Chairperson Geoffrey Kyomukama, Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Hajji Swalik Wasswa Masokoyi, and Principal Agriculture Officer Mildred Kukundakwe, along with other agricultural experts.

RDC Steven Nsubuga Bewayo explained that while Rukungiri is a district with many farmers, it was not previously known for a specific major crop.

He noted that the district leadership has now prioritized coffee as a key enterprise; second only to bananas and cattle to increase household incomes and build a lasting farming culture.

“Coffee is a crop that can be harvested for decades and passed on to generations. We want our farmers to embrace it not only for income but also for sustainability,” Nsubuga said.

He urged farmers to use the distributed fertilizers responsibly and promised to visit their farms in the future to assess progress. He encouraged them to maintain visitor registers for record-keeping and agricultural benchmarking.

Nsubuga also advised the beneficiaries to guide and support fellow farmers in their communities, noting that widespread success in coffee farming can reduce criminal behavior such as theft, as economic empowerment promotes social stability.

Rukungiri District Principal Agriculture Officer, Mildred Kukundakwe, said the district has prioritized coffee as a major crop despite the challenges posed by pests and diseases.

“We have started with a few model farmers from each sub-county so they can serve as examples. Other farmers will learn from them and adopt improved coffee farming practices,” Kukundakwe said.

District officials explained that the government procured fertilizers and chemicals to boost production and improve the health of coffee trees.