Agago cooperative to focus on growing maize, soybean and sunflower in new season
Geoffrey Otema, the Agago District Commercial Officer, said poor governance in the cooperative had led to farmers failing to work together, resulting in small volumes of low-quality produce
AGAGO, February 11, 2026 — Members of the newly revived Lukole Cooperative Society Limited in Agago district are set to focus on growing maize, soybeans and sunflower when the rainy season begins in the months ahead.
The cooperative, one of the largest in Agago district with close to 500 members, has been inactive for about three years due to poor governance.
Charles Odyek, the Chairperson of the cooperative, said they have registered 10 active Rural Producer Organisations [RPOs] across the two sub-counties of Lukole and Ajali.
“We have mobilised farmers and decided to grow maize, soybeans and sunflower. We also intend to hire out a tractor to our members at Shs 60,000 per acre to encourage large-scale production. We have agreed that each member will grow a minimum of two acres of maize, two acres of soybeans and another two acres of sunflower,” said Odyek.
Odyek explained that their target is to restore their bulking capacity, which suffered a setback over the last two years when members sold their produce individually.
“Members were producing but not bulking to facilitate easier marketing. There was no one to look for markets for their produce, so they were selling to any buyer at any price. We are now going to bulk produce in the new season and sell at reasonable prices,” he said.
He added that large-scale buyers tend to offer better prices when commodities are available in one location.
“They are willing to pay more when they find clean produce in one place instead of moving door to door looking for it. It reduces fuel costs and saves time for the buyers,” said Odyek.
Lukole Cooperative currently has a 100-metric-tonne storage facility.
The cooperative has also been granted the right to use a 500-metric-tonne satellite store constructed under the Project for the Restoration of Livelihoods in the Northern Region [PRELNOR], funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development [IFAD].
Geoffrey Otema, the Agago District Commercial Officer, said poor governance in the cooperative had led to farmers failing to work together, resulting in small volumes of low-quality produce.
“We are working to strengthen their governance systems so that farmers regain confidence in bulking through the cooperative. We are also arranging collaboration and linkages between large companies and the cooperative,” said Otema.
Most cooperatives in the Acholi sub-region face challenges with bulking due to farmers’ need for quick cash to meet emergencies such as illness and family upkeep, among other expenses.
https://thecooperator.news/agago-district-struggling-to-recover-over-shs-2bln-from-youth-women/
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