Retired civil servants appeal for farm inputs as rains set in
AGAGO – Retired civil servants under the umbrella of Lamiyo Cooperative Society have requested government to give them seeds as the rains for the first planting season of the year set in.
According to Uganda National Meteorological Authority [MNMA] March to May Seasonal Rainfall Outlook over Uganda, the south-eastern districts of Northern region[Dokolo, Amolatar, Alebtong, Lira, Kole, Otuke, Pader, Kitgum, and Agago] are expected to receive rains by around late March to early April with the peak of the rains expected around early mid-May.
The cooperative with 200 members from both Agago and Pader districts has been in existence for now ten years.
“We opted for retired civil servants’ cooperative so that we could generate our own income through farming as opposed to going to the streets to beg,’’ Tom Ojok Oyuk, the chairperson said.
Their major enterprises are maize, cassava, and sunflower, but at the moment they are stuck since many members cannot afford farm inputs like seeds, fertilisers, and other chemicals.
“At the moment, some of our members cannot afford to procure both cassava cuttings and sunflower seeds; that is why they are reaching out to the government for help,” he said.
Oyuk said much as development partners in the districts are giving out seeds at subsidised prices, still, some of the members of the cooperative cannot afford them. “That is why we are seeking government support.”
Mildred Akello, a retired teacher and a member of the cooperative, appealed for financial support, saying her household at the moment has financial difficulties.
“Some of the retired civil servants are too vulnerable to open up even an acre but if we can be supported to open land and buy seeds, we can move a step ahead,” she added.
Another member of the cooperative, Mildred Akello said agriculture, being the only source of livelihood left for most of the retired civil servants, they to be supported with better farm inputs.
Earlier, Operation Wealth Creation [OWC] coordinator Acholi Sub-region Rtd. Maj Gen. Francis Achoka advised farmers of the cooperative to engage the agricultural officers in the districts for any support needed.
“In case of any guidance, extension workers in your various districts should render you the support required,’’ he advised the farmers.
Sam Acuti of JEROMA Farmers Collection Centre, advised farmer cooperatives on the benefits to employ good farming practices if they want to get more yields in the new season.
“We are giving out seeds at subsidised prices and also training farmers in adopting good farming methods,” he said.
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