This report provides an update on ongoing training, research and community engagement activities being done under the DANIDA-funded APCCO Coffee Agroforestry Project that is being implemented at Makerere University under collaboration with NARO-University of Copenhagen (UCPH), National Coffee Research Institute Uganda (NaCORI), Mukono Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MuZARDI), CURAD Incubator, GrowGrounds, NewForesight, and Regen Farmer. This report highlights part of students’ PhD research studies being conducted in Mukono and Nakaseke districts focused on understanding how Robusta Coffee Agroforestry systems can contribute to improving smallholder livelihoods, closing the living income gap, and enhancing climate resilience. The APCCO project seeks to promote sustainable coffee agroforestry systems that deliver environmental benefits such as carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation, and climate resilience, while also improving household welfare. Integrating trees into Robusta coffee farms is a proven strategy to enhance smallholder productivity and build resilience to climate variability. As a multi-benefit nature-based solution, tree integration can improve ecosystem services, support climate adaptation, and strengthen livelihoods when effectively managed. However, its adoption remains uneven, constrained by gaps in farmers’ knowledge, socio-cultural and economic barriers, and misconceptions, particularly under increasing climate pressures. This project aims to investigate farmers’ knowledge of tree species, the factors influencing their integration and the performance of Robusta coffee in central Uganda.

APCCO Coffee Agroforestry Project Research and Outreach Activities Report April 2026 Bisikwa