The cassava cuttings were delivered in late June for distribution instead of April. The cuttings meant for youth groups in Lalworo village, Kal Ali Parish in Paicho Sub County have been abandoned at Cwero primary school in Cwero Sub County.
Eight youth groups in Gulu district have rejected more than 50
sacks of cassava cuttings worth 12 million shillings over delayed distribution. The
cassava cuttings were being supplied under the third Northern Uganda Social
Action Fund - NUSAF III program.
The cassava cuttings were delivered in late June for
distribution instead of April. The cuttings meant for youth groups in
Lalworo village, Kal Ali Parish in Paicho Sub County have been abandoned at
Cwero primary school in Cwero Sub County.
Michael Amone the chairperson of Cac Pe Yweka says,
his members were forced to plant other crops on the land they had prepared for
the cassava cuttings after waiting for too long. Amone says each member of
the 12 members of the group had cleared three acres of land awaiting the
cassava cuttings.
Geoffrey Odongkara Okello, the chairperson of Pit Tek another
group in Lalworo village says the cassava cuttings have already started
drying. Cassava is propagated by cuttings, by planting pieces of
stem.
Gulu District Agriculture Officer, Timothy Kilama attributes the
delay in distribution of cassava cuttings to bureaucracies in the requisition
of finances for buying the cassava cuttings. He said each sack of the cassava
cuttings costs 80,000 shillings.
Kilama, however, appealed to the aggrieved farmers to collect the
cuttings saying the time for planting is still good for better yields.
The development objective of NUSAF III program is to provide for
effective income support to build the resilience of poor and vulnerable
households in Northern Uganda.
Freelancer
Freelance Reporter
Michael Ojok is a multi-channel reporter based in Gulu district (Northern Uganda). He is interested in humanitarian stories, culture, conflict, peace, environment, health and education.
Michael Ojok
Freelancer