Richard Alioka, a farmer in Acowa Sub County says citrus farming has become very expensive to manage amidst challenges of low demand. Alioka says that he started orange farming in 2012 with five acres but notes that the management of orange trees is now costly than the output.
Farmers in
Kapelebyong district are shifting away from citrus farming after registering
heavy losses. Government has been promoting citrus farming especially growing
of oranges in Teso Sub Region to boost supply to Soroti Fruit Factory.
Several farmers ventured into the enterprise with the hope of reaping big from
supplying oranges to the factory. However, the excitement is fading away as
farmers continue registering disappointment because of low prices and the high
cost of growing and maintaining orange trees.
Richard Alioka, a farmer in Acowa Sub County says citrus farming has become
very expensive to manage amidst challenges of low demand. Alioka says that he
started orange farming in 2012 with five acres but notes that the management of
orange trees is now costly than the output.
He told our reporter that he spends
Shillings 2 million annually to maintain trees that he notes have not earned
him more than one million Shillings in a season. He has now to change to livestock farming.
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During the budget conference on Wednesday at Oditel Community Hall, Kapelebyong
District Production and Marketing Officer, William Ejiet said that they are now
promoting the production of cassava, fish farming, apiculture, livestock and
growing of groundnuts instead of citrus.
He explained that several farmers who received inputs for citrus farming have
recorded losses over the years as the plants wither in the gardens before
harvest.
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Simon Erwagu, the Interim Kapelebyong District Chairperson, says his people
have been impoverished with the high costs of managing orange trees that he
observed, have not paid off.
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Paul Opio, a farmer in Opucet Village, Bugondo Sub County in Serere District
cut down his 20-acre garden of oranges after a strange disease attacked the
farm. He has replaced them with pine trees.
Edward Eninu
Freelancer