Prof Jack Nyeko Pen- Mogi, the Vice Chancellor Gulu University has challenged farmers in northern Uganda to abandon growing of traditional crops saying they are of low economic value.
Prof Pen-Mogi says growing of traditional crops like maize and potatoes is the reason why the economic status of farmers in northern Uganda remains unchanged despite many years of farming.
The Gulu University Vice Chancellor was last week speaking at the university during the launch of a World Bank report on poverty in Uganda.
Prof Pen Mogi attributed poverty among farmers in the region to poor framing systems. He said those growing traditional crops such as maize, simsim and sweet potatoes in large scale, have continued to remain poor compared to farmers who grow non- traditional crops like tomatoes and carrots.
According to Pen-Mogi, with hand hoe as farm implement of opening land, even if a farmer grows between 50-100 acres of maize, another farmer who grows an acre of carrots or tomatoes will earn more money. He challenged farmers to grow non-traditional as a way getting out of poverty.
Ruth Hill, a Senior Economist with World Bank, called on farmers to invest in new farming methods to increase revenues. Hill observed that use of fertilizers and new farming technology will go a long way in improving farmers’ lives through improved household income.
Northern and eastern Uganda have the largest percentage of poor households, according to World Bank.
6 Comments
Thank Prof. I beg to disagree with you. The indigenous seeds are a virtual museum for these crops (millet, Sorghum. Sim sim) before the American Seed companies (MONSANTO etc) tweak and pollute them. Read Rev 13:17 and the Mark of the Beast. See four horsemen of the apocalypse in Rev 6. The whiteman is killing with war (Syria, Afghanistan, Lybia, CAR, DRC, etc), Ebola, Nodding Disease, Famine (US pays her farmers to destroy crop to maintain farm gate price instead of feeding starving Somalis etc). If they get control of traditional seeds, and when they want to kill us, all they have to do is increase seed price.
Dear prof. research what traditional crops can be commercialized – after all the Acholi people have experience growing them. MOO YAA has high value (used in chemicals, oil for Chocolate and skin products approx US$ per Kilo for the oil) and YAA is long lived (not labour intensive). Indians are introducing Oil Palm (In Uganda) yet we have Yaa. How about Tugu (coconut).
Use what god gave us.
AMURU Land AND MADVANI Sugar Land issue is paid no attention by Prof.Jack Pen-Mogi WHY???
1.Degrees of our Sons and Daughters Agriculture from Gulu University under Prof.Pen-Mogi from Lamogi in Amuru Districts.We should offer a climate of our traditional Cash Crops first priority to create Amuru Research College.
2.Prof.After reaching your retirement age what are you going to show as your GAIN?
3.My advise to you as an Experience Elder is to look for the best direction OUTWARDS.Help Amuru People and Young Graduates in Agriculture to set up a Research Institute in Amuru and employ the those you TRUST.
Professor Pen Mogi, incase you don’t know, millet, simsim or sesame, and the pulses we grow in Acholi land are the most stable and most healthiest foods on earth. And the whole of the western world are jealous of that. It’s very fortunate that we the Acholi people are the chosen ones. Our land is full with wealth and produce the best organic food stuffs ever. Naturally fertile land growing miracles nuts like shea nut with verities of health properties.
What on earth are you trying to say?Do you want Acholi people to divert from producing stable food crops that can be stored for years to vegetable cash crops that can be destroyed by pest or deseases within a day just because of cash greed? Acholi people must not use chemical on their land and must protect the human beings and the wildlife that surrounds its land. They are there for purposes. The use of chemicals has destroyed the western world farming lands. Their lands cannot yield without Improved, gmo seeds and fertilisers implementation. And that results in the extinction of insects that’s supposed to be germinating plants, seeds that can’t be replanted, land that has become toxic and dead with no turning back.
Acholi are not poor but that what other people want us to believe in. We had been put in IDP comps for over twenty years but got up and dusted ourselves. Immediately we started to feed ourselves and even feed neighbouring countries and districts, disasters keep striking again and again. Thus hindering our developmental achievements. How dare you say that Acholi are poor because of growing the traditional seeds when the land used to be the basket for East African? Where would you think we Acholi could have been now, if it wasn’t for the insurgents that took over twenty years?
Eating European types of foods during IDP has caused so many health ill on our people and cancers and that’s is one of the successful way of getting rid of Africans so that they can take over Africa as a whole. Ebola, HIV, AIDS and any virus mentioned it are all created to finished Africans. Now the plots has gone into damaging our organic seeds, destroying our land, and converting us from traditional food farming to gmo commercial cash crops farming for their benefits only.
Acholi we don’t Live on tomatoes and carrots, we live on grains, sesame and pulses and we should retain the original organic seeds and food. We must be contented with what we have and used to for hundreds of years with good health, than suffered from the seven deadly sins. Money made man mad.
Good points Acholi Sudan! The white man’s hands are in South Sudan now…
Prof. Acoli traditional crops are the best crops in the whole world because of the endless health benefits when you eat them. They are also in high demand commercially at international markets. Millet, sorghum, sim sim, groundnuts, pumpkin seeds, okra;otigo, mangoes, s-potatoes, etc E.g. four fingers of otigo cost $8.00; two mangoes cost $5.00; sim sim 1kg cost $28.00; when the crops are grown without the used of fertilizers they are even in higher demands. Almost every food store in the western world discourages sales of food grown by the used of fertilizers. We still advocate for fertilizers!
Just one e.g of the benefit of eating traditional crop, Otigo/okra: The health benefits of okra include its ability to lower total cholesterol levels, improve digestive health, improve vision, boost skin health, protect infant health, prevent certain cancers, strengthen bones, improve cardiovascular health, aid the immune system, lower blood pressure, and protect heart health. Tomatoes is acidic and cancer thrive well in acidic environment. Carrot does not have much of nutrients compared to other traditional crops.
Prof. let the govt help people by looking for markets, these new crops will only destroy your health, you will be spending the money in buying medications, and looking for Hospitals that treat related diseases that come from eating foreign foods(GMC, MONSANTO) grown with chemicals/fertilizers. Do not leave the ways of your Ancestors, they were well researched for thousands of generations. Do not loose it. Do you hear!!!
I visit Western Super Markets daily and wonder why we are so blinded by “everything foreign is better”. Buganda thrived with their coffee because they plant once and harvest severally.I suggest:-
[1]Tyang Geya / Sweet Sorghum in place of Madhvani’s Sugar Cane which is polluted with chemicals to make it white – do your research. We already know how to grow it. In America in the Southern States there are “do by yourself” farmers who squeeze the juices for high value competing with Corn Syrup. Australia has monster farms for sorghum – google it. Why then run to maize, Prof?
[2]Yaa must be compulsory to each school child to plant in his home, at least 3 seeds per year. Shade and school fees for generations. Acholi is loosing water catchment due to deforestation – makaa!
[3] NYIM – I have been to a Farm in Georgia where they grow sim sim that does not split therefore REDUCED LOSS!! Why did our so called intellectuals reason, research into this.
[4]Okono ready market.
{5] OCEYO – I dream of cultivating my childhood favorite fruit. OCEYO. Better than very expensive pomegranate fruit and competes with passion fruit except it is indigenous.
[6]Grape grows in Acholi. I personally used to eat some. Olok means something to us. Wine Industry galore.
{7] HONEY / kic is so praised in the KORAN such that a whole Koran Chapter 16 called an-Nahl ( a total of 128 verses)
Ch 16: vs 68 reads ” And your Lord inspired the bee: “Set up hives in the mountains, and in the trees, and in what they construct.” 69. Then eat of all the fruits, and go along the pathways of your Lord, with precision. From their BELLIES emerges a fluid of diverse colors, containing HEALING FOR PEOPLE. Surely in this is a sign for people who reflect.is dedicated to it.
[8].I have too many ideas which I will explain by example (IMPLEMENTING). Keep your ears open..
Yes I am a Cancer survivor and have surprised my oncologists / cancer doctors by the complete remission which involved other treatments outside the conventional. I researched the internet for alternative cures and diets. People like “Dr. Sepi” (RIP), a healer, Dr. Llaila Afrika, Dr Jewel Pookrum (all on Youtube) teach that the African biology is DIFFERENT from that of the whiteman’s. Crops that have been hybridized are poison to us.
Good points Acholi Sudan, continue to teach our people. People!! you must listen to this Brother, he is on the right truck. You will become wiser like our Ancestors who built the Pyramids, the genes are within you. Just wake up and do research. Pay attention to his advice