LIRA, September 21, 2024 – RCM Okello Orik, Lira district LCV Chairperson, has urged farmers in Lango Subregion to embrace coffee farming as a strategy to combat household poverty.
Okello expressed his concerns over the persistently high poverty levels in the Lango, Acholi, and Karamoja subregions, attributing this to relying on seasonal crops while neglecting cash crops like coffee, a perennial crop.
“When we were in the Office of the Prime Minister, the reports we received were alarming. Acholi, Karamoja, and Lango are among the poorest regions in Uganda, largely due to the focus on seasonal crop cultivation,” he stated.
He criticised historical agricultural policies, noting, “The British colonists zoned this part of the country force cotton production, leaving coffee for other regions, which has perpetuated poverty in northern Uganda.”
Okello emphasised that the government is now advocating for coffee cultivation across all regions, highlighting its potential for economic improvement, contrary to previous colonial narratives.
“There is no way we can reduce household poverty without adopting perennial crop farming like coffee, similar to other parts of Uganda,” he asserted.
His comments came during the recent launch of the United States Agency for International Development [USAID] Global Food Security Strategy Uganda Country Plan, part of the Feed the Future initiative. This five-year project aims to enhance agriculture-led economic growth, improve community resilience, and promote nutrition and hygiene.
Okello also warned farmers against purchasing counterfeit seeds, which yield poor results and contribute to food insecurity. He urged agro-input dealers to offer fair prices for seeds to support farmers effectively.
Patrick Agong, Executive Director of Sunrise Agro-processing and Farming, encouraged farmers to consider sunflower and other oilseed crops in addition to coffee.
Dr. Alfred Komakech, a scientist at the Ngetta National Agricultural Research and Development Institute, noted that local seed businesses have primarily focused on soybean, groundnuts, and sim-sim.
He advised farmers to source seeds from producers certified by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries to avoid potential losses.
https://thecooperator.news/museveni-entices-ssembabule-pastoralists-with-coffee-seedlings/
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