Farmers in Abim and Otuke districts are celebrating the opening of two new storage facilities designed to improve access to agricultural inputs, promote market-oriented farming and enhance storage capacity.
The facilities, which also serve as one-stop centres for value addition and climate-smart agriculture, were established at a cost of sh1.9b.
The project was funded by Japan implemented by the Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA).
The centres, located at Orwamuge town council under the Abim West Farmers Cooperative Society Limited and Otuke town council, were officially commissioned last week by Peter Lokeris, the Karamoja affairs minister.
Each centre includes a grain bulking store, an input shop, offices, sanitation facilities, milling plants and irrigation equipment.
Robert Anyang, the country director of SAA, stated that the facility at Abim will serve 50,000 smallholder farmers, providing them with tools, knowledge and services needed to increase productivity and profitability, which will help reduce poverty and improve food security.
Anyang explained that this is part of a larger initiative, with 18 hubs being established across the country, with support from Japan.
Ande Okiror, the programme coordinator, added that the project aligns with their shared goal of reducing rural poverty and food insecurity by strengthening multi-purpose agricultural cooperatives.
Lokeris praised the cooperative for embracing the project, expressing excitement over the intervention from development partners.
“This is a holistic project. Imagine everything you need, from the garden to the market. If there is no rain, there is an irrigation system,” he said.
“This project will reduce poverty, improve food security in the Karamoja region and boost productivity in Abim.”
He also called on SAA and Japan to extend similar support to Nakapiripirit, as farmersin the district also produce significant amounts of maize.
Jimmy Owiny Opio, the district commercial officer, thanked Sasakawa for establishing the centre, emphasising its importance in supporting farmers in the region.
The Rev. Julius Abura, the chairperson of the cooperative, explained that they focus on maize and cassava production.
Since its founding in 2019, the cooperative has grown from a few members to 3,621, with plans to reach 10,000 members.
Denis Odong, the LC3 chairperson of Orwamuge, expressed gratitude for the investment, noting that farmers had previously faced challenges in accessing better markets for their produce.
He explained that they were often exploited by middlemen who bought their products at low prices.
However, with the new developments, farmers are now motivated to pursue commercial production.
Odong also shared a recent experience in 2020, when the cooperative bulked several tonnes of maize, hoping to sell it to the World Food Programme.
Unfortunately, the maize was spoiled, resulting in significant losses.
LEAD PHOTO CAPTION: Lokeris (left) listening to Okiror explaining how the equipment is used during the commissioning of the storage facility on Thursday. Photo by Patrick Okino
