Uganda's robusta coffee exports for the first seven months of the 2010-11 [October-September] season dropped by 5% on year due to low yields from the main harvest in the East and Central coffee regions, the state-run Uganda Coffee Development Authority, or UCDA, said Friday.
A total 1.11 million 60-kilogram bags were shipped for export in the first seven months of the season, compared with 1.17 million bags in the corresponding period last year, UCDA said.
"The drop is explained by a shift in the weather pattern and the prevalence of twig borers [pests] in some of the major robusta growing districts," UCDA said.
Uganda's Eastern and Central regions suffered around five months of drought in late 2010 and early 2011 which affected crop yields. UCDA has since revised its production forecast for the season, to 2.7 million bags from the earlier 3.1 million bags.
During the first seven months of the season, Uganda exported 391,213 bags of Arabica coffee, UCDA said. Cumulative coffee exports for both robusta and Arabica varieties in the past seven months dropped 6.4% on year, to 1.5 million bags.
According UCDA, the onset of the second main harvest in the West and Southern regions is likely to boost output as the season nears its end.
"Overall, albeit the long dry spell experienced during the year, the size of the crop in the second half is envisioned to offset the dismal performance in Central and Eastern regions," UCDA said.
UCDA also said that the current rains, supported by improved agronomic practices, have considerably reduced incidence of pests and diseases, restoring farmers' confidence in the sector.
Uganda is Africa's largest robusta grower.
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(Source: http://www.coffeeasean.org/details.asp?Object=5&news_ID=20579463)
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