By Stephen Nuwagira
The prices of coffee have continued the upward trend in Ibanda with both Arabica and robusta coffee varieties recording gains over the past six weeks.
Presently, Arabica coffee goes for shillings 15,000 per kilogramme in Ibanda town and it is at shillings 14,500 per kilo in Igorora town council.
This indicates an increase from shillings 14,000 during the first week of December 2024. Arabica costs shillings 14,000 in Kashangura, Kagongo Division in Ibanda Municipality, up from shillings 13,500 on December 3, last year.
The price of the robusta coffee variety has also inched up to trade at shillings 14,000 per kilo in Ibanda town and Kashangura, and goes for shillings 13,800 per kilogramme in Igorora town council compared to shillings 13,500 previously.
The (clean) coffee beans cost shillings 13,700 in Nyakatookye trading centre in Bisheshe Division.
Coffee dealers and farmer cooperatives attribute the gains to quality beans coming onto the market and volumes that have attracted good buyers.
However, according to Godwin Musinguzi, a coffee buyer in Igorora town, Arabica coffee has been supported by demand due to the low volumes in the market. The harvest season for Arabica starts next month.
These gains (for robusta) are, however, lower than the shillings 15,000 price tag projected by sector players at the beginning of last month.