Sunflower, a ray of hope

As one cruise in Yumbe District, it is visually evident that Sunflower production is gaining popularity among the community.

It is fast replacing cotton and tobacco as a cash crop. Better still, the market is readily available since oilseeds production started in 2018 under the Inclusive market development for self-sustained oilseed production.

According to statistics, initially, there were 20-acres planted with oilseeds by refugees in Bidibidi refugee settlement and 480 acres were planted by the host community. 

The Extension Coordinator, Phillip Ocen, recounts with nostalgia. By then farmers bought packets of 1.8 kg of sunflower hybrid seed at a subsidized price (farmers paid sh70,000 and DCA paid sh30,000), which can plant one acre of sunflower.

Rashi Banduga says if you do it right you cannot go wrong in planting sunflower. Photo by Titus Kakembo   

Under the Mukwano and government partnership initiative, oilseeds are now being planted in the 12 sub-counties of Yumbe comprising: Kululu, Kuru, Lodonga, Drajini, Kei, Kerwa, Kochi, Midigo, Odravu, and Ariwa., Romogi, Yumbe T/C, in addition to 4 zones in BidiBidi refugee settlement.

"In 2018, we realized a harvest of 120mt of oilseed grains from the refugees and host community in 12 sub-counties of Yumbe District.

The main objective is to get sunflower and soybean grains to be used as raw oilseeds in oil processing for Mukwano Group, "says Ocen. 

These farmers in Yumbe and Bidibidi, in 2018 made sh88,000, 000 from selling oilseeds to Mukwano. The demand and capacity for oilseed production is evidently high.

A tour of the gardens was a revelation of rays of hope seen by host community and the refugees in Bidibidi Camp.

Sunflower gives refugees in West Nile another chance. Photo by Titus Kakembo  

One Rashid Banduga 45, farms on ten acres of land and has been elevated to a model farmer in his Obologofuku village community.

He says at a ready market of the harvest selling at sh1300 per kilogram, his peers are switching preferences.

"I have recruited 30 new entrants in planting sunflower," says Banduga. 

Banduga says given a good harvest on his expansive sunflower farm, he expects to build a permanent house, educate his children and live a better life. This will be in addition to diversifying his income with livestock and poultry. 

Refugee Mbako Zakia in Bidibidi Camp has not spared his energy to open up a farmland in the forest given to them by Office of The Prime Minister (OPM.)

"I was a businessman in Yei," laments Mbako. "But I lost everything because of the raging war in South Sudan. I have no choice but to plant sunflower if I am going to cater to my family adequately." 

Mukwano provides the farmers with seeds for planting, tarpaulin for drying them, as well as empty bags and technical services.

"There is an agreement entered between us the farmers and Mukwano Factory," said Mbako. "The basis of such an arrangement is a commitment on the part of the farmer, to provide a specific commodity in quantities and at quality standards determined by the purchaser and the commitment of the company to support the farmers' production and to purchase the commodity."