Itek Okile Rice Cooperative readying for first planting season
LIRA-Members of Itek Okile Rice Growers’ Multipurpose Cooperative Society have started preparing rice fields in readiness for the first season planting of the year 2023.
Alfred Ocen, the chairperson of the cooperative said at least 1,500 members intend to grow rice in the season that kicks off in April. 4, 000 individual farmers, he said, are also preparing their fields to grow rice.
He said the demand for rice keeps growing and as a result, it has prompted more farmers to go into the production of the cereal crop.
A kilo of milled rice in Lira City currently goes for Shs 5, 000 from Shs 3,000 while the un-milled is at Shs 3,000 from Shs 2,000.
“Right now, we are busy preparing fields because the planting season is nearing. We need to have our fields ready for planting before April,” Ocen said.
Nelson Ojede, one of the rice farmers said he has prepared four acres and expects to get 4.5 tons of rice in the first season.
He said last season the rice farmers were hit by a prolonged drought, which led to low harvests.
“Last season I harvested 4 tons but this time I am optimistic to get 4.5 tons,” he said, adding they expect to get seedlings from seed multipliers in Olweny Rice Irrigation Scheme where the cooperative does farming.
Benson Ogwang, a seed multiplier said he expected five tons of both Kapaci 39, and TR 107 rice varieties, which are high yielding and take only 90 days to mature.
He said he realised 2.3 tons last season but expects to get more than double that figure next season since he has hired more rice patches in the irrigation scheme.
Government revamped the scheme ten years ago after it collapsed during the Lord’s Resistance Army [LRA] insurgency. The scheme promotes rice growing to improve household income.
The United States African Development Foundation [USADF] recently donated Shs 912 million to the cooperative for capacity building of its members on rice growing.
James Opio, another farmer said rice farmers face challenges of unreliable climate and shortage of fertilisers.
“We don’t have any problem with the market but we are requesting the Ministry of Agriculture to provide us with fertilisers to boost rice production,” Opio said.
https://thecooperator.news/pallisa-rice-farmers-ask-govt-for-alternative-sources-of-livelihood/
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