Coffee and milk facing similar price challenges

Before ACPCU registered the coffee was sold at lower prices. The co-operative was also vital for local communities, receiving a Fairtrade Premium which has helped build roads, new facilities for storing coffee and give children access to schools.

Working as a group has also allowed them to bring production in-house, purchasing machinery and equipment that members of the cooperative can use themselves.

Ms Kyosiimire said: “We do still have challenges. We have a climate change problem that affects our coffee tremendously – a long spell of dry season means sometimes crops do not flower. This brings us a problem and I do not know how we will overcome that challenge,” she said.

“We have many of these challenges in common, controlling pests and diseases, and getting access to bigger markets at a good price.

“In our case the Fairtrade minimum price means we do get a good price, but the farmers I met did not know what price they would receive which makes things very hard.”

Milk

Neil Darwent, Free Range Dairy Network, met with Ms Kyosiimire and said, while UK dairy farmers could not be covered by the Fairtrade label, he hoped something similar could be built here.

“We would like to get a fair price for free range producers," said Mr Darwent.

"At the moment we are pleased they are getting a premium over and above the price but it is still market price. My biggest desire is some degree of stability."