Namayingo District Natives Urged to Embrace Cash Crop Growing

Dwellers of Namayingo district have been urged to take to cash crop growing in order to fight off poverty.

The natives according to their leaders have for a long time concentrated on only food crop which has affected their levels of earning from crop growing.

According to the district Chairperson Ogutu Benventure, natives are pushed against the wall with their food for home consumption which they end up offering for sale when need arises. In turn causing another problem of food shortage.

Ogutu noted; “Learn to differentiate cash crops from food crops, this is the only way we can eradicate poverty and famine. Rich families are those with enough food.”

However, Ogutu also urged the government of Uganda to put in place fairer policies with minimal taxes to entice the lowest farmer to export their produce for better higher income gain.

This point was made by the chairperson while expressing his disappointment in how the natives in his area are being taken advantage of with informal trading into Kenya. Ogutu said that this makes them susceptible to undervaluing of their produce and having to pay off bribes during transportation.

Barasa Samanya, a representative of traditional healers and herbalists attending the address also urged his colleagues to boost their capital by embracing the Parish Development model. Barasa accused colleagues in his category of being resistant to the wealth creation venture.

“It is through agriculture that we get our medicines for clients. We as well need to actively engage in crop production if we are to develop economically. The Parish Development Model is here to give us a boost, Brasa mentioned to his colleagues.

The Busoga region has been known in the past for strong growth of cash crops like cotton, and coffee with established ginneries. However, for long now the region has grappled with poverty and minimal development attracting concern from a number of stake holders.

The most prominent cash crop grown in the region at the moment is sugar cane.

By Daniel Mumbya

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