Local cooperatives urged to embrace mechanisation

NWOYA – Agricultural cooperatives in Nwoya district have been urged to embrace mechanisation such as use of tractors to boost crop production.

Lwanga Monday, an official from Mascor, the authorised dealer of John Deere tractors in Uganda observes that many farmers plant their crops late due to inadequate labour and that the use of tractors would address this challenge.

Lwanga was this week speaking to members of Nwoya Maize and Soybean Growers’ Cooperative in Celpeke village, Lii Sub-county in Nwoya district.

“We have all kinds of tractors from land preparation up to harvesting. We are partnering with Opportunity Bank to allow farmers get the tractors at a low interest rate and with quick acquisition process,” he said.

He said they would also train farmers on how to use the machines upon acquisition to reduce incidences of breakdowns.

Betty Acola, a treasurer of Nwoya Maize and Soybean Growers’ Cooperative said she always grows 10 acres of maize and five acres of soybean in the first season while she grows 15 acres of maize in the second planting season.

“Labourers are scare especially during harvest time because every farmer is in need of them and yet there is usually too much rain. We are forced to hire labourers from neighbouring districts in Lango,” she said.

Acola currently depends on her oxen to plough her land for cultivation.

Geoffrey Onekalit, the Chairperson of Nwoya Maize and Soybean Growers’ Cooperative agrees that they currently need tractors considering that members have moved from farming on small pieces of land to large acreage.

“Each member is currently utilising over 10 acres of land per season instead of just two acres we were using earlier,” Onekalit said.

He said members would hold a meeting to decide how best to acquire the tractor and embark on mechanisation.

Nwoya Maize and Soybean Growers’ Cooperative which was initially called Cam kwoki Farmers Group graduated into a cooperative in March this year and has over 40 members.

https://thecooperator.news/gulu-city-farmers-get-hand-tractors/

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