How coffee farming enables school dropout go back to school

AGRICULTURE |

After completing senior six in 2013, Jacob Ojok, didn't see himself joining university because there was no source of funds that could sustain his education.  

The only income he earned from the sugarcanes, which he had planted during his senior four, for university education, it couldn't help much because he harvested canes worth only sh400,000.  

Having acquired some knowledge in tree planting from officials from the National Forestry Authority at Unyama , where Ojok stayed with his father, he decided to start tree farming in Alaro Village, Alaro sub-county in  Nwoya district.

"I started commercial farming in 2011 when I was in senior four. I used to plant sugar cane in a swamp which I would sell and pay some school fees and save some money.  

When I was in senior six, I planted sugar canes to get some money that would take me to university. When results came back, I sold the sugarcane but only earned sh400, 000," he narrates.

Since the money was too little for university tuition and related costs, Ojok decided to invest the money in pine tree growing.  

For pine, it was an easy task because he had prior knowledge on how to grow pine, having stayed in a refugee camp at Unyama Abera forest.

While, there, Labeja says they used to accompany officials from the National Forest Authority in tree planting and they too got to learn some basics.

"I used that money to buy pine tree seedlings which we planted on three acres of land because we already had some knowledge on tree planting which we acquired while staying in a refugee camp near the forest called Unyama Abera Forest," he said.

While the pine was growing, a neighbour came along and was impressed at the management of the forest, he therefore contracted Labeja and his team to plant for him pine on seven acres.

For the seven acres, they were paid sh1,800,000 for lining, marking, setting, pitting and the actual planting of the trees.

From the tree planting deal, they used sh500,000 for purchasing banana suckers, each at sh2500 which they planted in more than three acres.

"After buying suckers, we still had a balance, my elder brother and I didn't know that UCDA was giving out coffee seedlings so we bought some from a nursery operator by the roadside, but these were not growing well," he recalls.

UCDA's involvement in Labeja's farm

While they were still wondering how to make the coffee seedlings they had at hand productive, they got some good news from their father, Labeja Oto, who informed them that UCDA was giving out free coffee seedlings so they didn't have to spend more money, purchasing seedlings.

Ojok explains further that his father directed them to UCDA offices in Gulu town, which he immediately approached to understand procedures involved in getting seedlings.

That is when officials from UCDA visited his area to assess the soils and their viability for coffee production. So, in 2015, Labeja was taken on by UCDA for training and related procedures involved in coffee production before he was given the first seedlings.

During the training, they were taken through the processing of growing coffee to harvest the beans. Pests and disease management, and other best farming practices needed by coffee plantations.

After the training, around 2016, Ojok was given the first seed for developing seedlings.  

In addition to seedlings and training, Ojok was given polythene pots used in seedling production, which seedlings he sold through UCDA to other farmers. 

"I planted them in three acres and in 2017. From that investment, I was able to earn sh3.5m because it was just the start, but I expect sh31 million from the next season," says Ojok.
"When I'm paid that sh31m, I will go back to school, I will study mechanical engineering as my brother manages the farm because we have been working together," he adds.

In addition to the support from his brother, Ojok has been able to succeed with help of all family members including his mother, who is involved in the harvesting, drying of coffee beans, and ensuring that there is always lunch whenever her sons are on the farm.

Impact on the community.

Much as he suffered to succeed in farming, Labeja has initiated a training program for other youth interested in farming.

Most training is conducted from his compound and the recent training focused on coffee growing, which attracted a group of 50 youth within his village.