Lango cultural leader calls for revival of cotton growing

Lira– The Paramount Chief of Lango Cultural Foundation, Mzee Yosam Odur Ebii, has called on farmers in the region to revive growing of cotton as one of the approaches to improving household income.

The cultural chief’s call comes on the heels of improving farm gate prices for the cash crop, giving several farmers a window of opportunity to make a fortune.

In the early 1960s and 1990s, cotton was a key cash crop in Lango Sub-region before the farmers abandoned it over its poor price and lack of market.

“Most of the farmers in Lango have abandoned cotton growing, opting for maize, sorghum, and other food crops, but I want to encourage farmers to go back to cotton because the price is now good in the world market,” he said.

“For many years, cotton has been supporting the livelihoods of thousands of households directly and indirectly in Lango. 

Odur Ebii argued that extension workers should sensitise cotton farmers to revive the crop that was once the key cash crop for the region.

“The extension workers should sensitise farmers about the benefit of cotton so that we kick out poverty in Lango,” he said.

The Prime Minister of Lango Cultural Foundation, Eng. James Robert Ajal, said the cotton sector collapsed due to the influx of second-hand clothes into the country.

“Many farmers abandoned cotton growing due to the influx of second-hand clothes that saw the collapse of the cotton ginneries across the country,” Ajal said, appealing to the government to regulate the importation of second-hand clothes as part of efforts to revitalise the cotton sub-sector.

Moses Barnaba, the coordinator of the Cotton Development Organisation in Apac district, said that the cotton price has stabilised, calling upon farmers to venture into cotton production and make it a game changer.

“I want to encourage farmers to embark on cotton production through cooperative unions and SACCOs to increase their savings and marketing,” he said.

Apparently, the price of cotton stands at Shs 3,000 per kilogramme.

https://thecooperator.news/lango-youth-urged-d-to-embrace-saving-culture/

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