Warning: Trying to access array offset on value of type bool in /usr/www/users/urnnet/a/story.php on line 43 Gov't Undertaking Study on Construction of Cocoa Factory in Bundibugyo :: Uganda Radionetwork
The proposed factory that will be managed by Bwamba Cooperative Union is meant to enhance capacity for the cocoa production to increase its quantity and quality for the benefit of local farmers and investors.
The Uganda Development
Corporation -UDC is undertaking a feasibility study to pave way for the
establishment of a cocoa processing factory in Bundibugyo district.
The proposed
factory that will be managed by Bwamba Cooperative Union is meant to enhance
capacity for the cocoa production to increase its quantity and quality for the
benefit of local farmers and investors.
In 2016
while campaigning in Bundibugyo, President Museveni pledged the construction of the
factory and in the same year, UDC undertook a field visit of Cocoa value chain
affiliated stakeholders and facilities in the district.
Yudaya
Kadondi, the Manager of Investment Services and a senior economist at UDC said the
cocoa processing factory will provide a ready market for locally grown cocoa but
also minimize post-harvest losses.
She added
that the study will guide the government on the return on investment including
the availability of the produce, the amount needed to invest, and expected
production capacity.
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Kadondi however emphasized the need to promote quality cocoa if the produce has
to favorably compete on the international market.
The State Minister
for Trade and Industry Harriet Ntabazi said the district had already procured
18 acres of land near Kanyamwirima army barracks where the proposed factory
will be established. She is hopeful that the factory will come along
with job opportunities for thousands of local residents and also add to the
local government’s coffers.
The
Obundingiya Bwa Bwamba-OBB cultural leader, Martin Kamya said that the institution
will soon converge to discuss how they can mobilize farmers to prepare for the
factory. He tasked local political leaders to organize the masses so that
they can fully utilize all the opportunities that come with such an
investment.
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Hassan
Baguma, the LCIII Chairperson of Bundibugyo Town council is hopeful that the
processing factory will address the challenges of price declines that have
greatly affected farmers' household income.
According to
the records from the Bundibugyo district production office, the district
produces more than 18,000 metric tons of cocoa annually. Currently, a kilo
of dry cocoa is sold for between 6,000 -7,000 Shillings on the local
market.
