LIRA – Farmers in Ogur Sub-county in Lira district are excited after receiving a maize mill now under installation. The farmers in the subcounty have been travelling over five miles to get their maize grains processed into flour.
Further, some of the maize farmers told this reporter were being cheated by the middlemen who offer low prices and then sell it at huge profits in towns.
The maize mill was secured by Nyekorac Community Farmers’ Cooperative Society Limited through the African Development Foundation based in the United States of America [USA].
The cooperative leaders said they will be buying maize grains from the farmers in all districts of Lango Sub-region to ensure the machine operates to its full capacity.
Collin Tino, a farmer from Orit-tigo village, Ogur parish, Ogur Sub-county said they will now make more profits from their maize since the cooperative will be buying it at a fair price compared to the middlemen.
“The cooperative has assured us that they will buy our produce at Shs 1,200 a kilogramme, and now that machine is brought nearer, we shall have the privilege to enjoy good quality maize flour. The maize mill will also give job opportunities to our redundant children,” Tino said.
Cylbina Ayugi, a resident of Bar-opiro village, Alwala parish in Ogur Sub-county, said they will now be able to save the money they have been spending on transport to mill the maize from distant areas.
Now relieved, Jimmy Washington Ogwang, said he had almost given up on growing maize because of the middlemen who were cheating the farmers.
With the maize mill being installed in their area, Ogwanga said he will continue growing the crop and make good profits since the cooperative has promised to offer a fair price.
Denis Opio, chairperson Board Nyekorac Community Farmers’ Cooperative Society Limited said they want to address the challenges of market and price fluctuations that local farmers have been encountering.
Opio said that the maize mil will not benefit only the cooperative but also the farmers because it will process finer maize flour and animal feeds.
“This machine has magnets which trap every metal and dust, meaning what we are going to eat fine posho like in Kenya. We want to reduce the price of maize flour and animal feeds to encourage piggery and poultry keeping,” Opio said.
Nyekorac Community Farmers’ Cooperative Society Limited has a total of 3,000 maize farmers that produce that are grouped under various names.
Opio called upon farmers across Lango Sub-region to grow more maize so that the mill is fed sustainably.
“The maize mill machine is expected to mill 25,000kgs per day. Therefore, we are calling upon farmers across Lango Sub-region to embrace the growing of maize,” he said.
The maize mill project costs a total of One billion shillings. The mill is expected to be operational in the next month.
Patrick Alip, the Lira district senior agricultural officer commended the cooperative for acquiring the maize mill, saying that it will boost maize production and household incomes.
“As Lira district, we are proud of the cooperative. The intervention they have made by acquiring a maize milling machine,” Alip said.
Josephine Alobo, the Lira district commercial officer said the maize mill facility will help farmers of the cooperative bulk the produce and enhance value addition.
“The maize mill will make the farmers store their maize grains together in one place and make value addition chain complete,” she said.
At the moment, Lira district has more than 20 milling machines for both rice and maize situated in the areas that have access to power supply.
https://thecooperator.news/lango-cooperative-union-to-build-shs1bln-maize-mill-in-kole-district/
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