By: Denis Opoka
Kitgum
Leaders in Kitgum district are concerned about the rampant sale of farm produce by the farmers during the festive season.
It is a common practice for farmers to sell their farm produce every year during the festive season to meet the demand for clothes, food, and drinks.
Arwai Christopher Obol, the Kitgum District Chairperson, said farmers are indiscriminately selling their produce in preparation for Christmas, something he says will most likely leave parents with nothing for school fees.
“What we are currently witnessing is abnormal. How do you sell produce to celebrate Christmas that is only for one day?” Arwai fumed.
Arwai argues that some buyers of these produce are using this opportunity to exploit farmers.
Jimmy Ssegawa Ebil, the Kitgum Resident District Commissioner, said he received information about how buyers exploit farmers with low prices and counterfeit currencies.
Ebil said since yields were affected by the prolonged dry spell especially in the first season, the uncontrolled sale might cause famine.
“I advise farmers to desist from this practice of selling their farm products for Christmas, if not, then we are going take action as security to stop that because it will be hard for the people in case famine breaks out next year,” he explained.
He advised farmers to be orderly when selling their farm produce and not be driven by Christmas celebrations.
Farmers concede
Roslyn Anek, a resident of Ocetokke Central Village, Labongo Layamo Sub-county Kitgum District, conceded that she sells her farm produce due to the pressure to meet family needs.
“Sometimes [an] eventuality like sickness strikes when you don’t have any money, and the only valuable item you have is farm produce. What do you do apart from making a quick sale to get money for that?” she asked.
Anek said she is mindful of her children’s education and always leaves some of her farm produce to sell for school fees.
David Olanya, a resident of Onyaa Central Village Kitgum Matidi Sub County, argues that since farming is his only source of income, he has no option but to sell his farm produce.
“Instead of blaming us for selling our agricultural products cheaply or carelessly, the leaders should talk to the financial institutions to reduce loan interest and make it easily accessible to all farmers,” Olanya said.
Utilize the stores
Alfred Omony, the Kitgum District Production Officer, said that it is hard to control farmers from selling their produce because others sell it from the garden before harvest.
“Most of these farmers begin looking for the market of their farm produce much earlier when the harvest period is approaching, and they sell their products without reaching home, so how can such a farmer be controlled?” he Omony.
Omony advised the farmers to take advantage of the available produce stores constructed by the government and partners to keep their produce as they wait for better prices.
Kitgum District has 21 produce stores, but most are idle.
Alex Opira, the Kitgum District Principal Commercial Officer, said if farmers were using the available produce stores, the district would easily control the rampant sale of the farm produce.
Opira said the district wants to fix price of all the farm produce, so that no farmer is cheated or exploited.
“The district is able and willing to connect the farmers to the buyers if they organized after carrying out the harvest of their product,” Opira said.
