Agric. & Environment
Cereal farmers ask govt to provide storage silos
The farmers expressed concern that they are normally cheated by Kenyan businessmen, who buy their produce in the gardens at lower prices and only return the processed products to them at higher prices.
Angura inspects one of his thriving maize gardens during a field visit. (Photo by Faustine Odeke)
By: Faustine Odeke, Journalist @New Vision
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Cereal farmers from the eastern region have petitioned the central government to construct silos for the storage of their produce during the bumper harvest to avoid losses and exploitation from Kenyan businessmen.
The farmers expressed concern that they are normally cheated by Kenyan businessmen, who buy their produce in the gardens at lower prices and only return the processed products to them at higher prices.
Presenting their petition before Tororo south county member of parliament Fredrick Angura on Sunday, the farmers said most of them have realised good harvests this season due to the favourable weather conditions, but are worried due to a lack of silos.
James Omachar, a maize farmer in Mella sub-county, Tororo district, expressed fear that, having injected much of the Parish Development Model [PDM] funds into their farms, they may not realise good prices to recover what they have so far spent.
Angura said it was very important for the Government to secure the farmers' produce by providing silos, preferably around the Malaba and Busia border points.
According to Angura, he has, on several occasions during the National Resistance Movement caucus meetings in Kyankwazi, reminded President Yoweri Museveni of the need to protect the farmers’ interests.
Angura said that, being one of the farmers, he has in many instances greatly lost out due to low prices, and it has been difficult to recover. Angura currently has over 50 acres of maize ready for harvest.
He said the Government should expedite the process of constructing silos in eastern Uganda to enable farmers to hoard their produce during the bumper harvest when the prices are low, and only sell it when the prices stabilise.
According to data from the agriculture ministry, the production of cereals in Uganda increased by 12.1% from 5,695,000 metric tonnes in 2023 to 5,005,000 metric tonnes in 2024.
Angura said it was very important for the Government to secure the farmers' produce by providing silos, preferably around the Malaba and Busia border points.
According to Angura, he has, on several occasions during the National Resistance Movement caucus meetings in Kyankwazi, reminded President Yoweri Museveni of the need to protect the farmers’ interests.
Angura said that, being one of the farmers, he has in many instances greatly lost out due to low prices, and it has been difficult to recover. Angura currently has over 50 acres of maize ready for harvest.
He said the Government should expedite the process of constructing silos in eastern Uganda to enable farmers to hoard their produce during the bumper harvest when the prices are low, and only sell it when the prices stabilise.
According to data from the agriculture ministry, the production of cereals in Uganda increased by 12.1% from 5,695,000 metric tonnes in 2023 to 5,005,000 metric tonnes in 2024.