By Weswa Ronnie
SIRONKO
Sironko district has officially been declared free from coffee leaf rust disease.
Coffee leaf rust disease, is a multicellular basidiomycete fungi of the order puncciniales that causes coffee leaf rust.
People from the Bugisu region are well known for growing coffee as their main Cash crop which helps them boost their incomes.
Last November, Coffee leaf rust disease hit Sironko district leaving many farmers counting losses.
The most affected sub counties were Bukisa, Masaba, Bumalimba Buhugu and Bumasifwa.
According to Francis Nabugodi, the Sironko District Agricultural Officer told our reporter on Wednesday, 26th March, 2025 that although the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries didn’t give them chemicals to supply to farmers, they used extension workers to sensitize farmers on how to prevent this disease.
He says the extension workers were also advising farmers on what chemicals to buy and tought them how to spray.
Nabugodi says that the district is currently free from disease urging farmers to report to his office or extension workers in case they see any other suspected diseases on their coffee.
Sam Wadaba and Peace Kwaga, all coffee farmers from Masaba Sub County expressed their happiness with this information saying last year they lost over 5 million in coffee for not yielding well due to coffee leaf rust disease.
Sunday Wojega, also a farmer from Bukise Sub County urged the district and Ministry of Agriculture to provide chemicals to farmers in case of any disease outbreak next time.
