MPs have called upon cotton farmers in the Northern Region to organise themselves in groups so that they can negotiate better prices, besides accessing farming tools from the Cotton Development Organisation.

 

The call was made during a one week investigative tour of the region's farmers by the committee on Agriculture, animal and fisheries into the cotton petition that was presented by Agago Woman MP Franca Akello on the November 17, 2011.

 

During the tour, the committee learnt that there were middle men exploiting farmers by buying cotton at shillings 800- 600 instead of the selling fee of sh1200 that was announced by the cotton development organisation.

 

The Chairperson of the Committee Dr. Kasirivu Atwooki MP Bugangaizi west in Kibale district informed farmers that groups would help by having trusted members who will jointly transport cotton to the ginneries to avoid the middle agents that exploit them.

 

He also pledged to convene a meeting of cotton stakeholders, the ginners and the Ministry of Agriculture to resolve the matter of cotton prices.

 

 The farmers requested the MPs to intervene and make policies that will enable them make agreements with the stakeholders (ginners) to have fixed prices so as to resolve the matter of price fluctuations.

 

They also requested government to construct more ginneries in their area so as they can have market for their cotton production.

 

The managing Director of the CDO, Jolly Sabunah told the MPs that they provide ox- ploughs to organised groups of farmers and the farmers provide themselves with oxen.

 

However farmers in Oyam requested Government to provide them with the Ox- Ploughs as well. They questioned CDO on selling them the seeds yet they used to get them for free.

 

Addressing MPs who toured the districts of Gulu, Kitgum, Apach, Oyam, and Dokolo, farmers informed them that they received seeds from the CDO at sh3000, pesticides at sh3500, and a spraying pump on credit fee of sh50,000.

 

In the petition, over 2,000 farmers petitioned parliament over what they called unfair cotton prices. The Cotton Development Organisation set the price of a Kilogram of Cotton at sh1,600 for the 2010/2011 financial year, which was half the price of Cotton for the previous year when cotton was being bought at sh3500.