LIRA – The National Agricultural Advisory Service [NAADs] has introduced the growing of cashew nuts in the Lango sub region.
A total of 8,000 seedlings of the highly hard drought resistant tree crops was offered to farmers in Lira district on 29th.
Farmers in the sub region have all along been ignoring the crops due to the long period it takes to fruits, lack of markets and access to its seedlings.
The NAAD’S Regional Coordinator, Hamilton Ogwang says, the sensitization is ongoing, and farmers are picking up the growing of cashew nuts.
Handing over the seedlings at the production department, Ogwang says their target is to increase the production of the perennial crop to help farmers to generate household income.
To fight food insecurity, Ogwang also said they will give 4,000 bags of cassava cutting and 8,000kgs of maize seeds for planting.
“For maize and cassava cutting, we are giving it to support the farmers to reduce food insecurity, and cashew nuts for income generation,” Ogwang said.
He listed the changing weather pattern, budget cut for NAADS, failure to balance between livestock and crops were among the challenges facing farmers.
The District Agricultural Officer, Patrick Alip said this is the second consignment because the first batch was distributed and planted.
“The district and the Ministry of Agriculture had rolled out sensitization meeting with farmers that is why cashew nuts is being taken up,” he said.
“It is a new crop and people have interest in it because of sensitization,” he added.
He said the district with NAADs through Operation Wealth Creation program’s target is to distribute seedlings of the new crops to 500 farmers.
Hellen Acam, a farmer said, the cashew nut is one of the high valued nuts globally and when you plant it, you are not only getting kennels but can make juice or enjoy the fruits.
Acam said a farmer can extract kennels, peanut butter and gasoline which is highly used in the aircraft.
“I urged the government since the production has increased from the time I did research on cashew nuts, we now need to put in bigger processing machines,” she said.
Acam, who has a farm in Wiodyek sub county and also executive director of North-East chili producers’ association said, a kilo of processed cashew nuts is Shs60, 000.
She said they want the Ministry of Agriculture, and Operation Wealth Creation program to pick up the opportunity and distribute 50,000 seedlings to farmers in the sub region.
Hudson Akwete, another farmer said most of them are willing to take up the growing of the new crops but there is lack of sensitization.
https://thecooperator.news/sugarcane-out-growers-plant-cashew-nuts/
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