Organic cotton brings hope to farmers in northern Uganda

For Alex Okello and his family, growing organic cotton means one thing : no more poverty.

"In 2005 when I heard that Dunavant Uganda was reviving organic cotton production and offering incentives, I joined a cooperative society," Okello says. He says organic cotton is giving them good income. He says in 2006, he harvested 2,000kg of seed cotton from three acres. "I used the money to buy two bulls, an ox-plough, a bed, household utensils, and clothes for my family." Okello's wife, Hilda Adongo, says they can now eat better, pay school fees and medical bills for their children. She adds, "This season we expect to build a permanent house. The price per kilogramme of organic cotton seed is likely to go up from sh500 to sh600 (US 30 to 35 cents) ."

Dunavant is an international organisation that gives cotton farmers inputs, teaches them new methods of farming and buys cotton from them. It produces 40% of the world's cotton, gives the farmers inputs such as organic pesticides, powdered laundry soap for pest control, hoes, axes, pangas (long-blade knives), spray pumps and extension services.

Okello says this season they have planted a variety of food crops such as millet, maize and beans. "We practise crop rotation. Food crops replace cotton, resulting in increased yields."

There are 45 site coordinators working under the area coordinator, Sam Eyul Abila. This season, he is inspecting 18,000 acres of cotton. In 2004, 2005 and 2006, about 8,000, 12,000, and 16,000 acres were planted with cotton respectively. He says 25 - 50 farmers in a group look after their gardens in their primary cooperative societies. Each society chooses its leader. Last year every society had a demonstration plot. Half of the farmers have adopted new practices.

The Cotton Development Organisation also supplies the farmers with seed.

Dorcus Nume says they are getting good money from organic cotton. "Apart from improving our incomes, it has made our marriages stable. More money means fewer domestic problems," she says. She is planning to build a permanent house from this year's proceeds.

About 24,000 farmers in Lira district are now growing organic cotton.

New Vision