Patrick Opio
22 January 2004
Kampala — Farmers in the Lango sub-region of northern Uganda, are in a state of bliss. There is a proverb among the Langi that says, 'Nino-En-Gold-atar,' meaning simsim is 'white gold.'
Indeed it is because produce dealers are now buying the crop for as much as sh1,200 a kilogram, Up by 40%. Many farmers who talked to Business Vision over the weekend lauded the Government's early 1990s policy to liberalise commodity trading.
"We are extremely happy with the Government for devolving power of trade in agricultural products to the private sector. We now have power to set or bargain for prices of our commodities, with produce buyers, or even with any government institution," Ketty Akello, a progressive farmer at Teoryang village, Nambieso in Apac district said.
Akello said of late, several simsim buyers are roving rural areas and markets looking for simsim, at sh1,000 per kilo.
"But some unscrupulous and high-profit minded buyers cheated farmers during the recently concluded festive season of Christmas and New Year, by buying at sh800 or sh900 a kilo," she said.
Several farmers say they have sold their crop at sh1,000 or sh1,200 in the towns of Lira, Apac, and trading centres like Corner Kamdini Aduku and Balla, among others.
"My family managed to realize 300 kilos of simsim, fetching us about sh300,000. This was out of my family's sweat. We have budgeted the money to cater for purchase of a heifer and other household requirements," Ojok-Atwali said.
Farmers in Lango normally grow simsim in the first and second rains. The second season usually yields better. It is planted in September or early October, and harvested from December to January. The majority of Apac farmers prefer planting simsim in the second rains while those in Lira do so in first season.
Many farmers said they were now more market-oriented compared to the old days of central marketing boards.
"We were discouraged, embarrassed and exploited. We could only plant for family food consumption. Farmers did not have a say in what they sweated for, sowed and reaped!" Mzee Omule-Olungu said. He added that cotton farming was hindered by the Lango Co-operative Union, which would pay farmers after a year or so.
Ogwal-Acira said this year, he would reduce drinking arege-dete, a local potent gin, so that he can seriously grow simsim and cotton.
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