Govt offers over 90,000 kilos of soybeans to Lira farmers
LIRA, March 21, 2024 – Government through the National Agriculture Advisory Services [NAADS] has given 95,000 Kilogrammes of soybeans to 18 agricultural cooperatives in Lira district.
Some of the the beneficiary cooperatives include Wii Odyek Oil Seed Farmers Cooperative, Lira District Association, Myek Farmers Cooperative Society, Can Omia Ryeko Cooperative, Itek Farmer Cooperative Society, Inomo Farmers Cooperative Society Limited, and Erute North Oil Seeds Farmers Cooperative Limited.
Others are Amokogee Soybeans Producers Cooperative, St Thomas Farmers Cooperative Society, Alobongic Ber Farmers Cooperative, Ayat Joint Youth Farmers Cooperative, Ibedu Karacel Farmers Cooperative, Apoo let Cooperative Society, Odic Farmers Cooperative Society, and Ober Ocamo Gweno Farmers Society.
The farmers are expected to pay 30 percent of the total cost of the seeds, government having already covered 70 percent. A kilogramme of the soybeans is going at Shs 1,800 for soybean varieties MACS 6M and MACS 3M.
Hamilton Ogwang, the Zonal Agricultural Development Officer for Ngetta Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute [Ngetta ZARDI] said distribution of oil seeds started in 2022.
Ogwang said the seeds will be given to individual farmers in Lango and Acholi who are members of the cooperatives.
He added: “In the first season of 2023, we gave only soybeans because Government wants to increase the production of oil seeds in the country that will eventually contribute to Uganda’s economy, NAADS is promoting production of oil seeds specially soybeans and sunflower. The arrangement is that soybean seeds are given to cooperatives in Lango, and in Acholi cooperative as well as large-scale farmers.”
Ogwang is hopeful that the farmers will plant early and get bumper harvests since the seeds have been delivered in time.
“Farmers are preparing their gardens and so we think in about a week’s time, they start planting the seeds,” Ogwang said.
Lincoln Owera, Chairperson of Pur en Lonyo Oil Seed Growers Cooperative Society Limited in Itek Sub-county explained that the soybeans will give the farmers bumper harvests.
“We planted sunflower in the second season last year and we are hopeful that when we plant soybeans in the first season this year, then we will get good yields,” Owera said.
Owera called upon the fellow members to pay for the seeds under the co-founding arrangement.
“I am encouraging our farmers to pay for the seeds because they are cheaper than those sold by the agro-input dealers,” Owera said.
Owera’s cooperative has 654 fully registered members adults including the youth.
Meanwhile, Hallan Okeng, Chairperson of Okwero Wila Bongo Farmer’s Cooperative in Bar Sub-county appreciated government for subsidising the priceof the soybean seeds.
“This initiative of co-funding is very good. We are getting a lot of benefits from the government because of being in the cooperative. Our farmers are poor to afford the seeds in the local agro shops but the government has made it possible for all of us,” Okeng said.
On his part, Moses Mugabirwe, Director of Savannah Seeds Limited urged the farmers to store seeds in good conditions so that they germinate.
https://thecooperator.news/adjumani-farmers-decry-low-prices-of-soybeans-urged-to-form-cooperatives/
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