Alebtong cooperative asks govt for farm machinery
ALEBTONG, September 25, 2023 – Kica Arwot Farmers’ Cooperative Society Limited in Alebtong town council has requested the government for a tractor and maize thresher machine, saying the machines would help to boost the productivity of the cooperative.
Isaac Okwir, the chairperson of the cooperative, said days ago that they are expanding and also undertaking oil seed production, saying soybeans and sunflower do well in Lango Sub-region.
With support from the National Agricultural Research Organisation [NARO] and other partners, Okwir said, the cooperative has embarked on commercial production in a bid to fight household poverty.
“We have been motivated to undertake oil seeds as our major products and as a cooperative, we are so happy,” Okwir said during the unveiling of the farmers’ supermarket at the town council constructed under Development Initiative for Northern Uganda [DINU].
DINU is a programme designed to consolidate stability in Northern Uganda, eradicate poverty and under-nutrition and strengthen the foundations for sustainable and inclusive socio-economic development.
The Minister of State for Agriculture, Fred Bwino Kyakulaga commissioned the village supermarket constructed with funding from European Union [EU]. The supermarket has the capacity to hold 5000 metric tons of agricultural supplies.
Officials said the supermarket will serve as a bulking centre, but also will be used to train farmers, among other functions.
Okwir, said Alebtong district is among the poorest districts in Uganda. He said there is a need for the farmers in the district to join forces to fight poverty.
He added that through Mid-North Farmers’ Investment Hub, they were able to sustain over 40 farmer groups and linked up with other cooperatives to train farmers on commercial agriculture, post-harvest handling and enterprise selection.
David Kennedy Odongo, the Alebtong district LCV chairperson, lauded the government for the development and advised the cooperative to produce quality products to attract a better market.
Christine Acen Ayo, a member of the cooperative said they are happy with the supermarket, saying bulking will give them strong bargaining power while selling their produce.
She said middlemen and produce dealers coming as far as Kenya were buying farmers’ produce cheaply, adding this is now history since the farmers have gotten a bulking centre.
Minister Kyakulaga urged leaders and farmers to put their political differences aside and work together to fight poverty, ignorance, and hunger, adding that government will continue to support the farmers.
https://thecooperator.news/disbursement-of-pdm-funds-in-alebtong-district-marred-with-fraud/
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