Acholi farmers disappointed by drop in Soya beans prices

A drop in prices of soya beans has left farmers in Omoro and Nwoya districts disappointed despite getting a bumper harvest.

A kilogram of soya beans which was Shs 1,500 in 2019 has dropped to just Shs1, 000.

In Te-Olam Village, Odek Sub County in Omoro district, farmers are stuck with over 25 tons of soya beans and beans.

Jimmy Kakamon, the LC 1 Chairperson Te-olam village said farmers have been left frustrated by the low prices, with some forced to engage in barter trade to get commodities they need.

Robert Wagwanga, the Chairperson Bobi United Grain Producers Cooperative in Omoro district said, “We are disappointed with the drop in prices at a time we expected to reap from our hard work.”

Bobi United Grain Producers Cooperative has 1,125 members who grow soya beans, beans, maize and sunflower as their main crops.

Wagwanga said they sold 150 tons of soya beans to Semata- an export company based in Lira district adding that they are expecting to sell more as the yields have nearly doubled.

Farmers in neighbouring Nwoya face a similar scenario.

Grace Akullo, a farmer in Purongo Sub County, Nwoya district said she has no choice but to sell off the crop at the low price because she needs to recover the money she invested.

“Shs1, 000 for each Kilo of soya beans is too little, but I can’t keep the crop because I fear that prices will drop even further when more farmers harvest their crops,” Akullo who had expected prices to improve this year said, adding that she planted soya beans on 4 acres and managed to harvest 10 bags.

“I had hoped to sell the crop at Shs 1,500 or more per kilogram but ended up earning only Shs 1m.”

Another farmer, Paul Ocira says he suspects that the sharp drop in prices of soybeans is due to lack of foreign market occasioned by the Coronavirus pandemic.