Benefiting from farming: MAK don urges Bunyoro farmers to embrace cooperatives
HOIMA, December 17, 2024 — Farmers in the Bunyoro subregion have been urged to avoid practising farming on an individual basis if they wish to truly benefit from agriculture.
Dr. Patrick Musinguzi, a lecturer and Soil Scientist at the College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences at Makerere University, called on local farmers to organise themselves into cooperatives to create a unified voice.
He made these remarks on Friday during the handover of a certificate of registration to the Kikuube Mixed Farmers’ Cooperative Limited at a ceremony held at Kikuube BCS Primary School in Kikuube Town Council, Kikuube district. The cooperative was registered with support from Makerere University.
Musinguzi explained that the decision to support the farmers in forming and registering a cooperative was prompted by the fact that individual farmers were not legally organised, and thus unable to receive support from institutions or organisations that target organised groups.
Makerere University began working with farmers in Kikuube district in 2022 as part of a three-year project focusing on growing upland rice [NAMCHE5], a variety known for its high nutritional value and resistance to climate change. The project, titled Enhancement of Rice Productivity Through Adaptation of Climate-smart Agricultural Options and Market Responsive Strategies in Uganda, is set to conclude in May 2025.
Musinguzi emphasised that if farmers engage in farming through cooperatives, they will be able to purchase high-quality inputs, such as fertilisers, seeds, herbicides, and pesticides, at lower costs and gain access to affordable financial options.
He pointed out that many individual farmers in the country continue to make losses because they lack the capacity to afford expensive fertilisers, irrigation facilities, and machinery such as tractors.
By embracing cooperatives, farmers will not only be able to secure insurance support but also gain access to better markets and higher prices for their produce, he said.
Richard Kirungi, an extension worker at Kikuube District Local Government, commended Makerere University for empowering farmers in the area. He added that the district’s production department was excited to see local farmers adopting modern farming techniques and cooperating with one another.
John Ariguma, the Kikuube District Commercial Officer, expressed enthusiasm about the formation of the new farmers’ cooperative, noting that cooperatives are the best option for farmers who want to reap the benefits of practising agriculture.
He encouraged farmers to adhere to the seven core principles of cooperatives: Voluntary and Open Membership; Democratic Member Control; Member Economic Participation; Autonomy and Independence; Education, Training, and Information; Cooperation among Cooperatives; and Concern for Community. He also called for transparency, stressing that cooperatives cannot survive without upholding values such as transparency and accountability.
Charles Ngambeki, the Chairperson of Kikuube Mixed Farmers’ Cooperative Limited, stated that the cooperative has over 90 members who are engaged in growing maize, rice, beans, and other crops. However, he acknowledged that the farmers face several challenges, including high costs for fertilisers, climate change, and a lack of mechanisation.
According to the Statement on the Cooperative Identity, a cooperative is “a self-governing group of people who have come together to address their economic, social, and cultural needs and aspirations by means of a business that they own and control democratically.”
https://thecooperator.news/pdm-registers-success-in-lango-amidst-challenges/
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