The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Mbale, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Coffee farmers of Nakatsi Sub County in Bududa district have rejected coffee seedlings by Operation Wealth Creation – OWC citing the dry season and poor quality.
Over 200,000 coffee seedlings have been supplied and are abandoned at Nakatsi sub county headquarters and are now drying since last week when they were delivered.
Musa Komeyi, a farmer said the district officials have brought the seedlings during a wrong season which is not for planting, adding that the coffee species are also not good.
He said they would have brought the seedlings in March, a season for planting alongside fertilizers to apply in the very seedlings since most of the seedlings have always wilted in the gardens even after planting due to lack of fertilizers.
Godfrey Kigai, another farmer said this is the fifth time the district has supplied them with coffee seedlings but whenever they (farmers) plant, the seedlings don’t grow. He also blamed the district officials for not monitoring the coffee seedlings and asking for feedback from them before they can supply more.
Simon Wadada, the Bududa district Agricultural Officer denied having authorised any nursery operator to distribute coffee seedlings saying this is not the right season. He said whoever supplied the seedlings will meet his own cost but the district shall not be part of that.
Simon Mukuwa, a nursery operator and supplier said he was still supplying more seedlings to the sub county but since the farmers have refused them, he is going to withdraw them from the site and will supply at the rightful time adding that the blame should not only be apportioned to him but all officials in the production department.
George William Wopuwa, the Bududa Resident District Commissioner blamed the supplier of the seedlings saying he would have waited for the rainy season so as to supply. He also said that government funds are wasted in the name of helping the people. He however pledged to follow up the matter so that the supplier does not gain out of those seedlings because they have been rejected by the farmers.
Milton Kamoti Wasunguyi, the Bududa district chairman said the supplier should have asked the farmers other than thinking about money only adding that this is not the season to supply coffee seedlings.
Col. George Wakamuke, the Coordinator Operation Wealth creation Bududa said he was not going to sign on the supply forms for that Nursery operator because most of their supplies as Operation Wealth Creation are during the wet seasons so that farmers can plant.
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