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Bushenyi leaders welcome President Museveni
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By Joshua Nahamya
Bushenyi
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has advised smallholder tea farmers to diversify into high-value enterprises, warning that tea is no longer profitable on small plots.
Speaking to out-growers, processors and nursery operators at Bushenyi Stadium, Museveni said tea farming was meant for large-scale landowners and urged smallholders with four acres or less to embrace intensive farming with crops like coffee, fruits, dairy, poultry, piggery and fish.
Bushenyi leaders welcome Museveni
He explained that global tea production has exceeded demand, depressing prices, while other sectors like coffee, dairy and fruits generate far higher returns. “Business is about demand and supply. Tea has less value compared to other enterprises,” Museveni said.
The President dismissed calls for a tea authority, describing it as “colonial mentality,” and instead promised regulation through the agriculture ministry. He pledged to mobilize Shs 312 billion to support tea farmers, processors and nursery operators, including a fertilizer subsidy and partial payment of the Shs 112 billion owed for seedlings supplied under NAADS.
Tea stakeholders raised concerns about high production costs, lack of markets, poor power supply and unfair international trade policies. They appealed for new factories, tax incentives, quality regulation and a relief fund.
Agriculture Minister Frank Tumwebaze said draft regulations for the tea sector are being finalized and will soon go to Cabinet. The meeting was attended by over 370 stakeholders from all tea-growing regions across Uganda.
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