SERERE– As the rains set in, farmers in Serere district have started receiving yellow maize seeds to plant in the first season of the year.
Some of the farmers receiving the seeds are members of Eastern Kyoga Multipurpose cooperative Society [EKMCS] whose members will plant the yellow maize in partnership with Ag-Ploutos which is supplying the seeds for the massive production of the grain.
Ag-Ploutos is an agricultural company whose core business is to strengthen food supply chains through partnerships with various public and private entities.
For an acre of land, farmers have been asked to pay Shs 150,000 for seeds, with an initial deposit of Shs 70,000. The balance would be paid after the harvest.
Stephen Epau, the chairperson of EKMCS said that most of the partners have in the past frustrated the farmers by failing to honour their promises.
He thanked Ag-Ploutos for providing seeds at the right time and encouraged farmers to aim at producing in big quantities. “We need serious farmers to plant the maize,” Epau said.
However, Epau said the biggest challenge farmers in Serere district face is the weeds, which affect the health of the crops, and urged the farmers to weed s early s possible.
He appealed to Ag-Ploutos to connect farmers to banks and microfinance institutions in order to access loans for production.
Stephen Baguma, the agronomist and out-growers manager, Ag-Ploutos said they would provide the market for the produce.
“We don’t deal with brokers. We deal with our farmers directly and we don’t take grains from farmers on credit,” Baguma said.
Baguma urged the farmers to cooperate and ensure that they plant seeds and weed their crops on time in order to get better yields.
Farmers expect to produce about 1,800-2,000 kilogrammes of yellow maize from an acre of land.
Modesta Aloto, a member of the cooperative, said her gardens are ready for planting the yellow maize. “I have prepared 18 acres of land and I am ready to engage in growing yellow maize,” she said.
Aloto encouraged the community in Serere district to grow yellow maize, saying it will help fight household poverty.
According to Uganda National Meteorological Authority [UNMA], Serere is among several other districts in central eastern Uganda expected to receive rains in mid to late March while peak rains are expected around mid to late April.
https://thecooperator.news/farmers-stores-in-kenya-receive-subsidised-fertiliser/
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