Smallholder farmers in Acholi urged to embrace cooperatives for growth
GULU, May 27, 2025 –– Smallholder farmers in the Acholi Sub-region have been encouraged to join or form cooperative societies to enhance their productivity and build sustainable wealth.
Robert Acac Okok, Chairperson of the Northern Uganda Tractor Owners, Operators and Farmers [NUTOFA] Savings and Credit Cooperative Society Limited, noted that building wealth individually as a farmer is difficult and time-consuming.
“The cooperative model is the only path to transforming agriculture in Northern Uganda. On your own, it’s a struggle to access essential inputs and services,” Okok said during a recent engagement meeting with smallholder farmers and development partners in Patiko Sub-county, Gulu district.
He emphasised that through cooperatives, farmers can gain access to agricultural equipment such as irrigation systems and quality seeds at subsidised rates, often facilitated by organisations running livelihood support programmes.
At the same event, New Energy Nexus Uganda, a global organisation, pledged to support organised farmer groups and cooperatives with access to affordable irrigation, milling, and drying equipment. Joy Musimenta, a Project Officer, explained that their Productive Use of Energy for Agriculture programme partners with NUTOFA, Tulima Solar, and Mercy Corps to support mechanisation among farmers.
“We work with organised groups to finance mechanisation. For instance, we pay cash to Tulima Solar, who then provides the equipment to farmers on loan, once they contribute just 10 percent of the cost upfront. The balance is repaid quarterly at an annual interest rate of 14 percent, which is far more affordable than commercial bank rates,” Musimenta said.
She further noted that the quarterly repayment structure allows farmers time to grow, sell, and earn from their produce before making payments.
“Unlike commercial banks that demand collateral such as land titles, we only require that a farmer is part of an organised and trusted group,” she added.
To ensure increased crop yields, the organisation has also partnered with Omia, an agribusiness enterprise, to provide training in crop handling and to support market access for produce.
The programme aims to reach at least 1,500 smallholder farmers across the Acholi, Lango, and West Nile sub-regions.
Christine Amony, Chairperson of the Bedo Kwiri Pe Yot Farmers’ Group, which has 34 members, highlighted the challenges her group faces during the dry season due to the lack of irrigation equipment.
“We often fetch 10 jerrycans of water in the morning and another 10 in the evening to irrigate our cabbages and tomatoes. It’s exhausting work, and without irrigation, the crops wither. This is why large-scale production has been out of reach,” Amony explained.
She added, “We plan to acquire a solar irrigation pump as a group to ease the workload and increase our cultivation area from two to at least four acres this season.”
Meanwhile, Jackline Atimango, General Secretary of Ajulu Growers Cooperative Society in Patiko Subcounty, welcomed the initiative.
“The loan repayment terms offered by New Energy Nexus are very reasonable and within reach for farmers. As a group, we are definitely going to purchase the equipment,” Atimango affirmed.
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