Summary:
- Currently, the price of cocoa ranges between 25,000 to 30,000 Ugandan shillings per kilogram.
RUKUNGIRI: Farmers in Rukungiri District have received 60,000 cocoa seedlings as part of efforts to improve household income and reduce poverty. Currently, the price of cocoa ranges between 25,000 to 30,000 Ugandan shillings per kilogram.
The seedlings were donated by Annah Nuwagaba Tumuramye, a hopeful candidate for the Rukungiri District Woman Member of Parliament. She launched the distribution in Katungu 1 cell, Nyakinengo Parish, Nyakagyeme Sub-county, over the weekend.
Tumuramye explained to farmers that the cocoa project is both sustainable and manageable, requiring minimal labor while yielding high returns. She encouraged farmers to embrace cocoa farming, emphasizing that it would not only enhance household incomes but also increase government revenue due to the growing demand for cocoa in the market.
Cue in Tumuramye…on cocoa…RR/ENG//
Speaking to our reporter, beneficiaries such as Komujuni Dina Makana and Kyatuhire Annet expressed their eagerness to adopt cocoa farming, citing its success in other areas like Nyarushanje, Bwambara, and Bugangari sub-counties. They believe this initiative will improve their incomes and help combat poverty.
Nyakagyeme Sub-county Speaker Musiigye Obed Mayanja, along with Peruth Ninsiima, Chairperson of the Coffee, Cocoa, and Vegetables Growing Cooperative Society, noted that cocoa has a higher market value compared to crops like coffee, bananas, and beans. They are optimistic that cocoa farming will thrive in Rukungiri’s fertile volcanic soils.
Cue in Beneficiaries…on cocoa vox pop…RR//
