By VOM News Team
Ugandan coffee companies managed to capture the headlines this week at the AVPA International Competition of Originally Roasted Coffees in Paris, France.
A total of 15 companies showcased some best roasted coffees allowing Uganda join some of the exceptional Coffee producers and roasters from all over the world, with the likes of Brazil, Colombia, Ivory Coast, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Hawaii, Honduras, Indonesia and Kenya at this year’s event.
Six of the Ugandan coffee companies were recognized and awarded recognized with gold, silver and bronze stars.
Gold star winners, Gorilla Highlands Coffee, from the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park territory in Kisoro district and Sasa Coffee from Mount Elgon area have received commendations from the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA).
Zicofe, Kikobero Coffee and Nucafe received Silver, while Big Gorilla, Dicana Coffee and Sipi Hills won bronze medals.
Mugamba Organic, Nucafe, Elgon Pride, Gorilla Conservation Coffee and Masha Coffee were also recognized with Certificates of Excellence.
Uganda emerged the best in Africa as 13 of the 15 samples submitted were awarded and recognized. It was followed by Ivory Coast, Ethiopia and Kenya with five, three and two samples recognized and awarded respectively.
Peru, Columbia and Uganda took the first three positions.
UCDA Executive Director Dr. Emmanuel Iyamulemye, a coffee enthusiast and son of Kisoro said attaining a gold star is a huge motivation to all Coffee growers and producers in the country.
Iyamulemye says Ugandan Coffee continues to do well on the international market fetching good prices and have such positive developments like the one achieved by Gorilla Highlands Coffee will increase public trust for the commercial crop.
He further called on more people in the country to embrace coffee growing so as to meet the local and international demand which is still very high.
Gorilla Highlands Coffee director Richard Rugaya says the gold star is such an encouragement that coffee farmers in Kisoro and Kanungu are doing it right.
Rugaya says, the Coffee that cares for its communities will continue to improve its quality through empowering farmers in the communities as well boasting coffee clubs in such Seseme Girls Secondary School and St. Gertrude’s Secondary School.
Gorilla Highlands Coffee cultivates almost exclusively Arabica beans which are predominant in Eastern Africa.
Arabica grows in areas between 1500 and 2,500 meters of altitude with appropriate conditions of temperature and humidity that only countries in the Equator belt present.
Robusta coffee species which is endemic to the Kigezi region has done well in promoting conservation of the Mountain Gorilla and other species in the protected areas of Kisoro.
Rugaya says research is being done with the University College of Dublin and Climate Actions to determine how coffee growing and carbon sequestration can be done to allow coffee farmers earn extra money from conserving the environment.
He said coffee can be grown in mixed farms with food crops for home consumption like beans, maize and bananas to guarantee local food security.
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