Uganda, March 30 -- For the first time in many years the coffee prices are quite high and very motivating. The harvesting season for the crop is just about to start and it is expected to be a very challenging period for the farmers.

Harvested coffee cherries are almost as good as cash and considering that currently the prices are good --- at around Shs11,000 per kilogramme of FAQ (KASE) --- protecting the crop from thieves is likely to be a big challenge.

During the night when the farmers are sleeping in their houses thieves often sneak into their garden and steal the crop. Coffee theft also occurs in the drying yard when members of the homestead are away - perhaps attending a burial, or a church service. In many cases the members of th...