ADJUMANI, December 4, 2024 – Local farmers in Adjumani district including refugees have been challenged to take advantage of the Shs 2.6 billion modern market being constructed under the Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development [USMID] in Ukusijoni Sub-county.
James Lowgenya the Dzaipi Sub-county Agricultural Officer said the Ukusijoni Market has the potential to become a regional market for the three districts of Adjumani Obongi and Adjumani due to its strategic location.
He appealed to farmers in the area to take advantage of this market, saying Ukusijoni Sub-county is a food basket of Adjumani district.
He added: “Most times farmers are cheated by the middlemen who end up getting a lot of profits, my humble request to the farmers is to take advantage of this market so that they avoid the middlemen.”
The official said most of the farmers in Adjumani grow maize, simsim, rice and soybeans, but sell their produce at low prices due to the lack of market, suggesting that the new market will now boost their incomes.
“The lack of markets in the district has been crippling many farmers, and as a district this is something that we have been working to address. More sub-counties that are considered to be food baskets have got markets built to boost the farmers livelihoods,” he stated.
On his part, Mansur Alumai, a peasant farmer in Bekeri village, Ayiri parish in Ukusijoni Sub county commended the government of Uganda and the World Bank for financing the construction of the market, noting that it will empower farmers.
“This market is going to help us [the farmers] a lot because we don’t have stores to keep our produce. The market has some stores, we are very happy we shall start selling our produce at better prices,” Alumai said.
He also said, “As a farmer, I have been producing cassava and rice, each year. I have been getting Shs 4 million from sale of cassava and Shs 3.5 million from rice. With this modern market, I will earn more than that.”
Dominic Arambe, the Ukusijoni Sub county LCIII Chairperson said his sub-county is lucky to have been allocated this market, saying it is the only sub county benefiting the USMID programme.
“This market will attract a lot of farmers and produce dealers from the whole west Nile and Acholi region and it will be a link to Juba due to its strategic location,” Arambe stated.
The market has the capacity of accommodating more than 1000 vendors. The project is expected to be completed in February 2024.
https://thecooperator.news/top-10-largest-stock-markets-in-africa-named/
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