The directorate headed by a Director comprises 2 departments: (i) Extension and (ii) Technology Development. The first is responsible for providing extension services to farmers on Good Agricultural Practices and Agribusiness as well as technical services at the post-harvest level. The second department is responsible for facilitating the dissemination of research results in the field through regional and district officers and transfer of new technologies in order to increase productivity. The following programmes are undertaken.
a) Farmer training and extension liaison
UCDA offers training programmes for nursery managers, farmers and processors through regional and district officers and study tours
b) Coffee Replanting
i. Support coffee replanting to replace the old, diseased coffee trees with new genetically pure and higher yielding varieties by providing clean planting materials through coffee research and community based coffee nurseries.
ii. Introduce commercial coffee production in new and non-traditional areas of Uganda with particular emphasis in Mid-Northern Uganda.
iii. Collaborate with other stakeholders on mobilization, sensitization, technical preparation and follow-up on coffee nursery development, coffee replanting and productivity enhancement.
c) Technical Services
This involves provision of technical services and feedback to the sub-sector players on matters of quality improvement. Activities include inspection, licensing of factories and training for technicians in the processing chain as per The Coffee Regulations, 1994.
d) Coffee Research and Technology Development
The Technology Development department liaises with the National Coffee Research Institute (NaCORI) on specific programmes to mitigate against the effect of the Coffee Wilt Disease, other diseases and pests as well as climatic change.
Staff
1 Francis Bhatia Chesang—————– Director Development Services
2 Mike Butseya Maliro——————– Regional Manager – Northern Region
3 Lutaakoome – Ssentamu K. Edward— Regional Manager – Central Region
4 Apollo T. Kamugisha——————– Regional Manager – S.Western Region
5 Frederick M. Sewaya——————– Regional Manager – Eastern Region
6 Jimmy Baluku—————————- Regional Manager – Western Region