Farmers in Uganda are losing out

Sep 29, 2001

SIR—I am maize farmer based in Kigumba in Masindi district. I have been in this business for two years now.

SIR—I am maize farmer based in Kigumba in Masindi district. I have been in this business for two years now. Recently, at the beginning of February we got loans from the bank to grow maize. By the time we got loans the price of maize was sh200 per kg. We got these loans under the help of “Idea Project”, a USAID-funded project. Before we got loans Idea project helped us to acquire “cash flows” and the cash flows Indicated that in order to get profit you would sell maize at sh200 per kg. But right now maize is sh50 per kg and the cost of production is shs 100 for farmers using scientific methods of farming. Prices being sh50 and the cost of production being sh100 means that farmers can’t pay their loans. I am appealing to the Government through the Ministry of Agriculture to act sooner than later before things run out of hand. This situation has made a farmer poorer than before. If the Government does not come with a solution, it means modernization of agriculture won’t work. John Okello Masindi

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