By Mike Rwothomio

Leaders are accelerating preparations for the 2026 Agricultural Trade Show and Coffee Conference, a three-day event scheduled for 11–13 November at the Kyambogo University grounds in Paidha Town Council, Zombo District.

The gathering is expected to bring together smallholder farmers, traders, agro-processors, researchers, government officials and private-sector stakeholders to showcase products, forge stronger market linkages and unlock new opportunities for agro-industrialization.

The event carries the theme “Building Climate Resilient, Sustainable Agriculture for Agro-Industrialization and Market Linkages for Wealth Creation.”

Organisers say it will cover the entire agricultural value chain, from input supply and production through post-harvest handling, processing and marketing while also celebrating the cultural diversity of the Alur, Kebu, Lendu and Lugbara communities of West Nile.

At a stakeholder planning meeting held in the Paidha Town Council boardroom on Monday, 5 September, James Cekecan Apoi, chairperson of the central organising committee, appealed for wider institutional and community support.

“We need broader support from every stakeholder if this event is to deliver real benefits to our farmers,” Apoi said.

Farmer groups and cooperatives, including the Okoro Coffee Growers Cooperative Union that serves more than 8,000 members across West Nile, continue to aggregate cherry and parchment, improve bargaining power and reduce exploitation by middlemen.

However, challenges of limited market access, low income improvement and persistent poverty among farmers remain.

According to the organisers, the agricultural trade show and coffee conference will deliver concrete advantages beyond a temporary display of produce. It will create face-to-face platforms where smallholder farmers meet buyers, exporters, input suppliers and financial institutions.

Such direct interaction often translates into better prices, longer-term contracts and clearer quality specifications.

Apoi, who is also chairperson of the Okoro Coffee Growers Cooperative Union, linked the forthcoming event to agriculture’s role as the backbone of Uganda’s economy, contributing approximately 70 per cent of the country’s GDP.

Patrick Aneniu, Zombo Principal Agricultural Officer, stressed the urgency of intensified mobilization in the remaining weeks.

“We must intensify mobilization efforts leading up to the event so that every farmer, trader and processor in the district and neighboring areas participates fully,” Aneniu stated.

District Production Officer Dr Walter Kumakech noted that the exhibition will deliberately span the full agricultural value chain.

“The exhibition will cover the entire agricultural value chain, giving participants a complete picture of opportunities from the farm gate to the market,” Dr Kumakech explained.

Participants will gain immediate exposure to new technologies, improved seed varieties, networking sessions to strengthen coordination, practical knowledge on good agricultural practices, financial literacy and climate resilience.

The coffee conference seeks to add further value by introducing farmers to the specialty segment, cupping standards, traceability requirements and premium markets that pay significantly more than bulk commodity channels.

Coffee remains Uganda’s leading agricultural export and a critical source of foreign exchange. Recent figures from the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) show the sector has reached historic highs. In the twelve months ending October 2025, Uganda exported 8.4 million 60-kilogramme bags of coffee valued at US$2.4 billion (approximately UGX 8.2 trillion).

This represented a 47 per cent increase in volume and a 77 per cent surge in value compared with the previous corresponding period, when the country shipped 5.8 million bags worth US$1.3 billion.

Earlier in the 2024/25 coffee year, figures of 8.2 million bags earning US$2.3 billion and 7.93 million bags generating US$2.24 billion were also reported, all pointing to sustained growth driven by higher production, improved quality and elevated global prices.

Robusta continues to dominate volume, typically accounting for 80–90 per cent of shipments, while Arabica has recorded the fastest growth in both volume and value. In some months Arabica exports more than doubled year-on-year as buyers sought higher-quality lots from Mount Elgon and the West Nile highlands.

In rural districts such as Zombo in the West Nile region, coffee is far more than a cash crop; it is a foundation of household resilience and local economic development.

The highlands of Zombo, Nebbi and neighbouring areas produce distinctive Arabica known for its mild, sweet aroma and unique flavour profile, grown largely on small family plots.

However, many communities in Zombo and parts of Nebbi and Arua that grow coffee have over the years never witnessed immense benefits of the commodity often called “green gold.”

In an earlier stakeholder meeting held in the Paidha Town Council boardroom, Principal Agricultural Officer Patrick Aneniu assured that the 2026 event is designed “not merely as a showcase but as a marketplace and classroom that can accelerate wealth creation for rural households.”

Earlier this year, the government through the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries distributed over 2 million coffee seedlings to farmers across Zombo district in a bid to boost large-scale coffee production and inject more confidence into the coffee sub-sector.

According to a MAAIF report, Zombo has so far exported 5.6 metric tons of parchment coffee in 2026.

Well-managed coffee provides steady seasonal income used to pay school fees, construct permanent houses, purchase additional land and meet medical expenses. Coffee also encourages intercropping with bananas, beans and fruit trees, improving food security and soil health while providing shade for the coffee plants.

However, in Zombo poor infrastructure continues to raise transport costs and forces quick, low-price local sales.These challenges compound climate shocks that reduce yields just as prices drop or costs rise, trapping farmers in cycles of low investment and vulnerability. Productivity is often low, and diversification or adaptation remains difficult without support.

The event is expected to attract officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industries and Fisheries and other key agricultural stakeholders. Zombo leaders engaged farmers recently.

Mike Rwothomio is the news editor at Zoomer Africa, your number one grassroot information hub for African news trends and updates.