Power Shortages Slowing Uganda’s Coffee Production

Ongoing power rationing is slowing the processing of coffee in Uganda during the current peak growing season.

According to David Muwonge, the head of production and marketing at Uganda’s national coffee farmers’ body, Nucafe, coffee processors in Uganda are not keeping up normal levels because their operations continue into the night, when most power rationing occurs.

“There is too much coffee coming from farmers, but the processors are not operating at the same pace due to power shortage,” Muwonge told the Wall Street Journal.

The power outages in Uganda — Africa’s largest producer of robusta beans — are due to inadequate generation from fuel-fired thermal plants resulting from unpaid fees by the government.

For the full story: Wall Street Journal