Coffee On The Edge: Uganda’s Farmers Battle Thieves As Prices Soar – CoffeeTalk

Coffee farmers in Uganda are facing an unprecedented challenge: coffee theft. The rising global coffee prices have made farms highly attractive targets for thieves, with unshelled robusta beans, known locally as kiboko, rising by up to 65%. This has created significant insecurity among farmers, with the police and government yet to publish comprehensive data on the trend. Food and beverage theft is becoming a global issue, with over 20% of all stolen products worldwide being food and drink items in 2022.

In response, Ugandan farmers are turning to innovative security measures, such as employing night guards, installing fencing, and even using bees to deter thieves. The impact of theft extends beyond immediate loss, as thieves often strip beans from trees, damaging branches and reducing future productivity. Unripe cherries also suffer, affecting farm income and the market. The government aims to boost coffee production to 20 million bags by 2030, but theft could undermine these efforts and deter farmers from investing in their crops.

As the global coffee market grapples with high prices and rising thefts, the resilience of Uganda’s coffee farmers is put to the test, as rising costs are driving crime and impacting livelihoods.

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