MP Akol roots for perennial crops in Acholi Sub-region

AMURU– Kilak North Member of Parliament Anthony Akol, also chairperson Acholi Parliamentary Group [APG], has urged his colleagues from the sub-region to rally farmers to embrace the growing of perennial crops, saying the farmers will earn much more money from the investment.

Akol said that most of the crops that the farmers in the region grow have a three-month maturity period, and don’t earn much money from growing such crops compared to if they were growing perennial crops like coffee.

According to Akol, APG has reached an agreement with government to begin supplying seeds and seedlings for perennial crops such as Hass avocado, palm oil, and coffee among others, much as the region grows some cotton, an annual crop.

“We want government to start distributing seeds and seedlings of perennial crops to farmers in Acholi Sub-region in order for them to move away from subsistence farming which has kept them in poverty,” Akol said.

Akol noted that as APG, they have also reached an agreement with Horyal Investment Limited to consider introducing perennial crops like Palm Oil, Hass Avocado among others for Atiak Sugar Out-growers, who have been victims of persistent fire outbreaks, leaving them in huge losses.

Tony Awany, the Nwoya County Member of Parliament, also secretary for Investment under APG said that in the first months of 2023,  APG members will be moving round the sub-region to sensitise the farmers and have them registered in order to benefit from the distribution of planting materials for perennial crops.

Awany said that for those that are already registered, plans are underway to conduct a verification exercise aimed at identifying those who are serious to take up the initiative of growing perennial crops.

Last year, the Ministry of Agriculture launched the distribution of macadamia to farmers in Agago district, under the Make Acholi Green Again, an initiative spearheaded by Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny Dollo.

During the distribution then, Dr. Samuel Mugasi, the Executive Director Natioan Agricultural Advisory Services [NAADS], said Acholi Sub-region has fertile land which allows good production of crops like macadamia, Hass avocado, and cashew nuts among others.

Since time immemorial, farmers in Acholi Sub-region have been planting crops including sesame, ground nuts, maize, cotton among others as cash crops. They have however had bad experiences in selling their produce due to unregulated price fluctuations mostly masterminded by the middlemen.

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