KWANIA, January 5, 2025 — More than 500 smallholder farmers from Inomo Town Council and Inomo Subcounty in Kwania district have united to form a cooperative society, believing it will significantly improve their livelihoods.
The farmers, who belong to 17 groups of 30 members each, initially began as small-scale grain millers in Inomo Subcounty, Kwania district, five years ago. However, the with technical support from the officials of the National Oil Seed Project [NOSP], the farmers successfully established the Inomo Farmers’ Cooperative Society Limited on Friday.
Through this cooperative, the farmers aim to increase their production, add value to their produce, and ensure they can negotiate better prices collectively. The cooperative will also shield them from exploitation by middlemen.
Solomon Okino, the NOSP Coordinator for the Lango and Teso subregions, said that they intend to support the creation of more cooperatives in the two regions to improve the socio-economic status of smallholder farmers.
“As the National Oil Project, one of our key strategies to empower the community is to help establish more vibrant cooperative societies, so we can reach a greater number of farmers in the districts where we operate. At present, we have 65 cooperatives in both the Lango and Teso subregions. This initiative is aimed at enhancing the socio-economic conditions of smallholder farmers,” he explained in an interview on Friday.
George Johnson Ojok Ocen, the Kwania District Production Coordinator, also encouraged farmers to form more cooperatives and pool resources to overcome the challenges faced by individual farmers.
“Farmers are often exploited by middlemen. For example, while maize is selling for Shs 700 per kilogramme in Lira City, here in Kwania, it is only priced at Shs 600. This is why we believe that forming cooperatives will address the issues caused by middlemen and offer financial support for farmers,” he said.
Moses Owino, a member of the Rwot Akica Village Savings and Loan Association [VSLA], said he joined the cooperative to address the low prices for his farm produce.
“I decided to join this cooperative to help pool my farm produce with other farmers and sell it at better prices. For a long time, I’ve been selling my rice and maize at low prices, and I believe this cooperative will provide a solution,” he said.
Another member, Rose Ajali, is hopeful that the cooperative will enable her to collaborate with others and sell their produce at more competitive prices, thus improving her livelihood.
Denis Opio, a commercial farmer and Chairperson of the Nyeko-Rac Cooperative Society Limited in Lira District, who facilitated the formation of the Inomo Cooperative Society, said, “It is crucial for farmers to join cooperatives in order to access better seeds, advanced technologies, and agricultural mechanisation.”
Poor governance and greed blamed for collapsing cooperatives
While many cooperatives in the Lango Subregion are on the brink of collapse, Opio attributes this to financial difficulties, poor member contributions, weak record-keeping, and greed over finances.
“Cooperatives have been established in Uganda for many years, but many have failed to thrive. In my experience, the key issue is governance. If the governance of a cooperative is weak, it cannot grow,” he said. Opio urged the members of Inomo Cooperative Society Limited to strengthen its governance, take ownership of the cooperative, and actively support it economically by purchasing shares and directing business to the cooperative.
Experts believe cooperatives are an effective means of combating poverty, particularly in rural areas, by providing members with access to markets, finance, and technology. They also promote social cohesion and community development.
Currently, Kwania has a total of 103 cooperative societies, but according to a report from the Kwania District Commercial Department, only 60 percent of these cooperatives are operational.
https://thecooperator.news/kwania-woman-mp-rallies-farmers-to-embrace-coffee-farming/
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