Acholi leaders want implementation of new farming project halted

GULU-Acholi leaders want the recently launched Parish to Market Model project to boost commercial agriculture in Acholi Sub-region halted to give more time for further discussions and sensitisation of the land owners.

The Parish to Market Model programme which was recently launched by President Yoweri Museveni in Gulu City is anchored on Public-Private-Community Partnership [PPCP] approach, with the hope that it will help in the socio-economic transformation of Acholi Sub-region.

Under the initiative, three private sectors, Agromax, Terra-Agri, AK-Purongo, and United Green have been identified and will receive grants and interest-free loans to prepare, develop and manage community-owned land and manage 12 rural farm service centres.

The development initiative is expected to benefit up to 300,000 households in Acholi Sub-region by  bringing more land under commercial agriculture, boosting household incomes, and job creation, eliminating poverty and food insecurity through commercial farming.

During the recent meeting held at the Palace of the Paramount Chief in Gulu City, Prof. Ogenga Otunnu, the chief architect of Parish to Market Model, said the programme seeks to help farmers transit from subsistence to commercial farming.

He noted that none of the locals’ land will be grabbed as feared by some people, further indicating that the programme is in line with the government’s Parish Development Model [PDM] which seeks to move poor households out of poverty through commercial production.

However, Denis Akaka, the Prime Minister Palabek in Lamwo district, said there is a need for more sensitisation about the programme, mentioning that in Lamwo district, many land owners are not willing to participate in the programme fearing that their land will be taken over by government.

On his part, Phillip Polly Okin Ojara, the Chua West Member of Parliament said the implementers of the project are overambitious.  According to Okin, the 100 acres of land required to establish each of the 12 rural farm service centres is too much.

During the meeting, Rwot Acana II said the cultural institution will institute a technical team to scrutinise the project paper and evaluate what works for the Acholi, adding that the project was being rushed, making some of his subjects to be skeptical of the intentions of its implementers.

“We have not rejected this project. Let us go slow. Give us time to study the project document well. we don’t want our people to lose land in the name of boosting commercial production,” Rwot Acana added.

Meanwhile, Prof. Ogenga said more consultations would be held, especially to iron out outstanding issues of concern highlighted by the leaders.

“We will make consultations on how we will protect the land, because that is where the major doubt is. We shall also bring on board other stakeholders, who will be able to help with the sensitisation of the masses about this very important project,” Ogenga said.

Anthony Akol, the Kilak North Member of Parliament, urged the government to help the locals register their land as a measure to provide them with security of tenure.

Akol, also Chairperson Acholi Parliamentary Group [APG], who said that the land size required to establish a service center is too much, also called for the testing of the soils to ascertain which crops do best in particular areas. Under the project avocado and macadamia are some of the crops identified for growing.

“We want soils tested to ascertain where to grow certain crops. Then, we can register smallholder farmers into cooperatives,” Akol said.

https://thecooperator.news/mp-akol-roots-for-perennial-crops-in-acholi-sub-region/

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