By Phillips Kica
Omoro
Farmers in Omoro district have shunned the stores constructed by the government to collectively bulk produce and provide easy access to markets.
In 2017, the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industries and Fisheries, through the Agriculture Cluster Development Program (ACDP), rolled out the construction of stores in 20 districts, including Omoro, Gulu, Nwoya, Nebbi, Arua, and Yumbe districts in northern Uganda.
The stores were one of the ways the ministry hoped farmers would store their produce in common, collectively get market, and easily access critical farm inputs and equipment for post-harvest handling cheaply.
Rodents scare away farmers
However, Charles Peter Okot, a farmer in Adak village, Juba parish, Lakwaya sub county Omoro district, who deals in cotton and soya beans, disclosed he started storing his produce in his hut after rats ate two sacks of his beans from the communal store two years ago.
“I have a space in my small living hut where I have constructed a simple store using stones and timbers inside my living house as a store for my farm produce,” Okot revealed.
Gerald Opiyo, a farmer in Lukwir Te Store Cell in Omoro Town Council, said the store constructed about 7 years ago is infested with rats and bats.
Opiyo added that besides the pests, thieves always break into the stores and steal farmers’ produce, hence discouraging farmers from using the stores.
Alice Lanyero, the secretary produce dealers in Idure parish, Lakwaya sub county highlighted that their store is small and can be used by only ten farmers if the harvest is bumper.
“The store does not help much since it has poor aeration, making the products either rot or develop weevils, which lower its quality at the time of sale,” she added.
Richard Okello, another farmer in Labora sub-county, said he now stores his produce at home where he can do timely checks in case of pest infestation, unlike in the communal stores where he needs permission to open the store.
District acknowledges the challenge
Godfrey Jomo Oyet, the District Production Officer of Omoro, acknowledged that farmers in the district are losing their farm produce in the communal store to thieves, pests, and poor aeration.
Omoro district has 20 produce stores constructed within the sub-counties of Lakwana, Koro, Lakwaya, Labora, Orapwoyo, Lalogi, Bobi, Abuga, Odek, Ongako, Akidi sub-counties, and Omoro town council.
According to Oyet, although most of the stores are functional, they are idle with few products from the farmers’ association in the district.
He advised farmers who still store their crops in such facilities to enhance security against thieves, dry them well before bagging, and keep them clean to prevent pest infestation.
Oyet revealed that the Ministry of Agriculture is planning to rehabilitate the stores in a deplorable state to prevent produce from being stolen or destroyed by harsh weather.
The Uganda National Bureau of Statistics estimates that close to 70% of the population in the country works in the Agriculture sector, however, several farmers lose their produce post-harvest due to poor quality stores, harsh weather, pests, and poor storage practices.
According to a 2019 Food and Agricultural Organization report, Uganda loses 17.6% of its harvest annually, exacerbating hunger, poverty, and food insecurity.
