UGANDA: Northern Uganda Christian Farmers Reap Big from Cassava Production after Good harvest
Deacon Isaac Ojok
Christian farmers in Gulu Archdiocese are reaping big from agricultural project after successful harvest of their cassava.
The farmers under “Cassava Commercialization and Industrialization project”, initiated by Most Rev John Baptist Odama the Arch Bishop of Gulu Arch diocese are optimistic to remain self-reliant and be able to provide for basic needs in their families.
Fr Matthew Okun Lagoro, the coordinator of the project told AMECEA news correspondent in an interview that Christian farmers have embraced the project and that they are working to improve upon their household income and the livelihoods.
Fr Okun noted that farmers are at liberty to sell their products especially dry cassava to a food processing factory at reasonable prices, and this is the reason why farmers are becoming stable financially.
For better sustainability of the project, Fr Okun revealed that they have moved forward to incorporate other government ministries, giving examples of the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Industry-MAAIF formerly represented by the National Agricultural Advisory Services-NAADS and Operation Wealth Creation-OWC to give technical advice to farmers.
Meanwhile the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, (Mofped) Ministry of Trade Industry and Cooperatives, the Micro Finance Support Center Uganda, other government Agencies are on board to ensure that all logistical support are given to the farmers.
Another arm of government which has been brought on board, according to Fr Okun, is Uganda Development Cooperation-UDC charged with the responsibility to oversee the establishment of Cassava industry in Acholibur and other places so as to support farmers’ move in supplying the factory.
He disclosed that, the local leadership in the area, the community in Northern Uganda have fully accepted to embrace the project, what he said is motivating the stakeholders of the project to continue expanding the initiative to other areas in Lango sub region and West Nile respectively.
What is remaining presently, according to Fr Okun Lagoro, is continuous massive mobilization in the area which is being done to invite more people to come and embrace the project and seeing that more cassava industries are set up in the region so as to support production of cassava.
Apart from the massive mobilization, Fr Okun informed AMECEA Online that, they are making constant consultations with the Archbishop and Bishops in Gulu Ecclesiastical Province (GANAL), government and other key stake holders on how the project can be supported and benefit the people of Northern Uganda.
He further observed that the Bishops are very excited about the progress being made and urged the people to take advantage of the program in a move for them to grow.
Through the project, Fr Okun disclosed that the vision is to see that Northern Uganda becomes the area for achievement of the vision 2020-2040, in a move to raise the capacity of the people to reach the middle-income status economy.
Apart from the impact of the program in the livelihood of the farmers, he noted that a robust rapport has developed between the Church and the district leadership in Acholi and Lango as a result of the network of collaboration developed since the inception of the project.
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