Cotton on the rise again
Nov 26, 2008
RAYMOND Okidi is 50-year-old subsistence farmer from Patong sub-county in Pader district. But two seasons ago, he, like many other farmers in Acholi and Lango region was convinced to grow organic cotton with a promise of better prices.
By Ibrahim Kasita
RAYMOND Okidi is 50-year-old subsistence farmer from Patong sub-county in Pader district. But two seasons ago, he, like many other farmers in Acholi and Lango region was convinced to grow organic cotton with a promise of better prices.
“We thought our time to reap from cotton had come. However, many farmers in Pader will regret the decision for many years,†he lamented.
“From organic cotton gardens, I harvested only 200kgs per acre yet my colleagues in western Uganda who sprayed their crop harvested over 1,000kgs for the same acre.â€
Besides low harvest, Okidi added, organic promoters did not pay them the good prices they had promised. “We were really disappointed and we have decided to abandon organic cotton.
The Cotton Development Organisation (CDO) has sensitised us thorougly, provided pesticides and free seeds in time for planting,†he explained. “Our plan is to graduate from these “organic†houses (grass thatched houses) to iron-roofed houses and move out of poverty. Conventional cotton is the tool for our prosperity.â€
Indeed Uganda’s cotton industry is on the way to attaining production levels of 40 years ago, following the restoration of peace in
RAYMOND Okidi is 50-year-old subsistence farmer from Patong sub-county in Pader district. But two seasons ago, he, like many other farmers in Acholi and Lango region was convinced to grow organic cotton with a promise of better prices.
“We thought our time to reap from cotton had come. However, many farmers in Pader will regret the decision for many years,†he lamented.
“From organic cotton gardens, I harvested only 200kgs per acre yet my colleagues in western Uganda who sprayed their crop harvested over 1,000kgs for the same acre.â€
Besides low harvest, Okidi added, organic promoters did not pay them the good prices they had promised. “We were really disappointed and we have decided to abandon organic cotton.
The Cotton Development Organisation (CDO) has sensitised us thorougly, provided pesticides and free seeds in time for planting,†he explained. “Our plan is to graduate from these “organic†houses (grass thatched houses) to iron-roofed houses and move out of poverty. Conventional cotton is the tool for our prosperity.â€
Indeed Uganda’s cotton industry is on the way to attaining production levels of 40 years ago, following the restoration of peace in