NARO official urges Lango cassava farmers to form cooperatives

LIRA–  A top official from the National Agricultural Research Organisation [NARO] has advised cassava farmers in the Lango Sub-region to form cooperative societies if they are to access better markets and have strong bargaining power for their products.

Dr Christopher Omongo, NARO’s head of Root Crops Programme, said forming a cooperative would give the farmers powers to speak with one voice and determine the price of cassava products and seeds.

“There is a saying that when you want to walk fast, walk alone but when you want to walk far, walk together. This is what you are supposed to do as cassava farmers in the sub-region,” Dr Omongo said days ago while addressing farmers at Ngetta Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute [NZARDI] in Lira City.

NARO has launched a Shs 400 million project to increase cassava production and productivity, access to certified seed and value addition in four districts in the Lango Sub-region.

However, according to the organisation’s principal research officer, Robert Kawuki the production of cassava declined from 2.09mln acres in 2019 to 1.26mln in 2020 due to pests and diseases, poor demand and lack of market.

With support from Divine Organic Food, one of the lead partners in the cassava value chain, the farmers have established bulking centres in Lira, Apac, Dokolo and Kwania districts.

The centres, according to the managing director of Divine Organic Food, Noela Ojara, have been set up and will be convergence points for cassava farmers, distribution for inputs, and collection points for seed and roots including training smallholder farmers.

Dr Omongo said through formation of cooperatives, production will grow and farmers will reap the benefits of their sweat.

Vincent Opioto, a prominent cassava farmer in Dokolo district welcomed the idea of forming cooperatives, saying it is long overdue.

https://thecooperator.news/teso-cassava-farmers-upset-by-govt-failure-to-build-processing-plant/

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