Industry insiders say the east African country's coffee output and its quality might fall in the next several months due to dry weather prevailing in Uganda, which primarily cultivates the robusta variety of the beans.
The commodity is a key source of foreign exchange for its economy, which is ranked the third biggest in east Africa.
The country exported 193,965 60-kg bags of the commodity in February, down from 264,373 bags a year ago, but higher than a previous forecast, the source at the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) said.
"The rains were very inadequate during the early stages of the crop that has been under harvest in the last two months," the source told Reuters. "Secondly, there are pests and diseases that have been attacking Robusta trees and both of these factors have had an adverse impact on yields this month compared to the February last year."
Sources at the UCDA had forecast the country would export 185,000 60-kg bags of the commodity in February.
Uganda earned $30 million from January coffee exports -- a leading source of foreign exchange income and employment in east Africa's third largest economy -- which fell by 18.6 percent to 215,180 60-kg bags compared with a year earlier, also due to unfavourable weather. source (Reuters) For the latest updates PRESS CTR + D or visit Stock Market news Today
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