Local authorities in Koro Sub County, Gulu district are stuck with over 90 bags of cassava cuttings after local farmers failed to turn up to pick them.
The materials were delivered by the army under the Operation Wealth Creation program that replaced the disbanded National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADs) program.
The cassava cuttings were delivered at the Sub County head quarters on June 6th this year with the intention of supplying them to farmers for multiplication but only 40 bags have been picked by the intended beneficiaries.
Mr Justine Langol, the LC III Vice Chairperson says unlike in previous items supplied under the Operation Wealth Creation, close to three weeks, there has been no sign of interest from the farmers to register and pick the planting materials.
Langol adds that, “Several farmers have raised fear that the rotting cassava cuttings may not germinate and that may lead to waste of energy as well as time after opening a large chunk land for cultivation.”
According to Koro Sub County authorities, previously, 1,000 bags in10kgs of maize were delivered and the entire supplies were picked within days by farmers.
Others were 300 bags of bean seeds as well as300 bags of rice seeds ready for planting.
Col. Francis Acoka Ongom, the Coordinator of the program for the Acholi Sub Region said that after the planting materials were delivered, it was upon the local leaders to mobilize farmers.
Col. Acoka added that it was upon Sub County officials to ensure that the supplies did not go to waste since government has done the procurement to support farmers in the region.
“If a cook prepares food and people refuse to eat it and eventually it goes bad, who is to be blamed,” Col. Acoka also questioned.
In May this year, a beneficiary from Omoro County in Gulu district told President Yoweri Museveni during a rally that her mango seedlings did not survive the dry spell since they were distributed late.
Ms Mary Auma Bongomin, a beneficiary from Awere zone who received 200 mango seedlings says the materials were supplied late when the dry season had already set in.
President Museveni ordered that the team led by the army be mindful of the season in the region so that the program succeeds unlike NAADs.
The UPDF has supported dozens of local farmers in Acholi sub region with over 100, 000 tons of Maize, 80,000 tons of beans’ seeds, 122 freshian cows, 5 tons of rice seeds, 10,000 banana suckers ready for planting , 200, 000 coffee and 100, 000 improved maize seedlings.
The farmers hail from Gulu, Nwoya, Amuru, Kitgum, Agago, Pader and Lamwo.
