Patrick Opio
22 December 2004
Kampala — FARMERS in Lango have been advised against burning their cotton crop. Erute South MP, John Odit, made the call following the fall in cotton prices announced by the Government recently.
The price of cotton dropped by 50 per cent, from sh600 last year to sh300 a kilogramme.
"I hear farmers are threatening to burn their cotton in protest. They should not take such a radical step," he said.
He promised to present the issue to Parliament, which might advise at least sh500 per kilogramme.
Cotton buyers have thronged rural areas, offering farmers sh250 kilogramme this Christmas season.
Angry farmers met and threatened to demonstrate against the low price of the crop. "We are selling cheaply like that because we need money for Christmas celebrations," Ojok-Atwali, from Teoryang village, Apac, said.
More than 90 per cent of the families in Lira and Apac planted cotton this year following last year's boom. "I had planned to build a semi-permanent house with this year's cotton proceeds, the low price has disappointed me," one farmer, Ogwal-Acira said.
"We are not happy with the Government. We are not likely to get something reasonable from this year's harvest," Thomas Abal, from Alito, said.
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