Cotton growing takes off

Oct 12, 2008

COTTON farming in Lango sub-region and eastern districts of Pallisa and Budaka, is picking up after two years of confusion. A large number of farmers in the two regions last season took up organic farming after they were convinced they would get better returns by organic cotton promoters.

By Ibrahim Kasita

COTTON farming in Lango sub-region and eastern districts of Pallisa and Budaka, is picking up after two years of confusion. A large number of farmers in the two regions last season took up organic farming after they were convinced they would get better returns by organic cotton promoters.

However, the move proved disastrous because the crop was destroyed by pests and diseases.

As a result, Uganda’s cotton yields declined over the years from 476,000 bales in 1969 to just 60,000 bales last year. Cotton earnings also fell by 4% to $19.5m in 2007 from $20.4m in 2006.

Despite the loss in yields, the farmers were not paid the promised better prices, causing crop neglect and disillusionment.

In a move to revamp the sector, the Cotton Development Organisation (CDO), has made strategic interventions by providing cotton planting seeds freely to every farmer, pesticides at subsidised prices and extension services.

The seeds are viable and have registered 100% germination rate, motivating farmers to concentrate on spraying their crops to avert pests from destroying them.

“High-quality seeds have been supplied to the farmers freely and pesticides are sold to farmers at subsidised prices,” explains Vincent Kamba, a cotton farmer in Machori village in Saburu sub-county, Budaka district.Farmers have put their energy to weeding and controlling their crops from deadly pests like bollworms and lygus attacks.

Munyoga, who boasts of a group of 400 farmers, explained that the farmers went back to conventional cotton growing because the Government was intervening by providing free high-yielding seeds, pesticides and extension services.

The strategic interventions coupled with CDO’s announcement of a 33% rise in cotton fargate prices from sh600 per kilogramme last season to sh800 for the 2008/09 season, have provided incentives for farmers to work harder.

The rise in the price puts conventional and organic cotton at the same price level.

Keya Saburi, a farmer in Bulangira village, Pallisa, said: “With my seven acres of conventional cotton, I expect to harvest 7,000kgs. I have totally abandoned organic cotton growing because it has impoverished us.”

Cotton experts predict that over 600kgs will be harvested by the farmer per acre.

Kamba said high yields were possible because the farmers use best crop management practices like synthetic pesticide spraying and fertilisers.

However, farmers who have been encouraged to grow organic cotton especially in Pader and Kitgum districts where organic promoters have not given any effective means to pests and disease controls are bound to lose yields to pests. Whatever premium they are given will not compensate the lost yields.

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