North cotton farmers get seeds, pesticides
Jul 17, 2008
FARMERS in Lango and Acholi sub-regions have received 15,000 units of pesticides and 660 tonnes of cotton seeds from the Government.
By Patrick Okino
FARMERS in Lango and Acholi sub-regions have received 15,000 units of pesticides and 660 tonnes of cotton seeds from the Government.
The regional field officer of the Cotton Development Organisation, Ben Byamukama, handed over the items to the farmers during a function at Ngetta Ginnery in Lira district last week.
“Our focus this year is to increase cotton production from 9,000 bales, which we got last year, to 50,000. That is why we are distributing the seeds to the farmers but not ginners,†he said.
Byamukama noted that another 25,000 units of pesticides would be sold to farmers at sh3,500 per unit.
He blamed the poor cotton yields last year on the poor distribution of the 790 tonnes of seeds.
“We were dissatisfied with the way ginners distributed seeds and how they sensitised farmers,†Byamukama said.
He identified West Acholi Cooperative Union and Jitco international as some of the non-performing ginners in the north.
He urged ginners to focus on the primary duty of ginning cotton and buy it at fair prices but not “owning†farmers.
Mahesh K. of Dunavant, a firm that buys cotton, said they would buy each kilogramme of organic cotton at sh800.
FARMERS in Lango and Acholi sub-regions have received 15,000 units of pesticides and 660 tonnes of cotton seeds from the Government.
The regional field officer of the Cotton Development Organisation, Ben Byamukama, handed over the items to the farmers during a function at Ngetta Ginnery in Lira district last week.
“Our focus this year is to increase cotton production from 9,000 bales, which we got last year, to 50,000. That is why we are distributing the seeds to the farmers but not ginners,†he said.
Byamukama noted that another 25,000 units of pesticides would be sold to farmers at sh3,500 per unit.
He blamed the poor cotton yields last year on the poor distribution of the 790 tonnes of seeds.
“We were dissatisfied with the way ginners distributed seeds and how they sensitised farmers,†Byamukama said.
He identified West Acholi Cooperative Union and Jitco international as some of the non-performing ginners in the north.
He urged ginners to focus on the primary duty of ginning cotton and buy it at fair prices but not “owning†farmers.
Mahesh K. of Dunavant, a firm that buys cotton, said they would buy each kilogramme of organic cotton at sh800.