Kagadi
Cocoa farmers in Kagadi district have been urged to educate their children and mobilize more people to embrace cocoa farming as a preventive measure against theft of the cash crop which is on the rise.
The message was sounded last evening 18th Dec 2024 by Lillian Ruteraho the Kagadi Resident District Commissioner while speaking as a chief guest at Cocoa farmers’ training held at Kamuyange Catholic Church in Kyakabadima Sub County.
She says cases of cocoa theft are on the rise because parents have not invested in the children’s education, and others have neglected their families.
Ruteraho highlights the importance of education in reducing cases of cocoa theft and boosting its production in the district.
Rutereho further praised the Kagadi district production department for their efforts towards agriculture development and boosting cocoa production.
Insert……Ruteraho on Cocoa
Mparana Desire the Kagadi district Senior Agricultural officer highlighted that the district has 10500 cocoa farmers and that over 15,750 acres of land are under cocoa cultivation across the district, with average yield per hectare of 1562.5Kgs.
He adds that the district contributes over 1m tons of dry Cocoa beans to the country’s export volume to the international market and that the production department organized the day to recruit more farmers.
Mparana further urged farmers to get cocoa seedlings from the certified nursery bed operators and avoid planting seeds because they grow well.
Insert……….Mparana on cocoa production
Ndibwami B yosia the Kagadi district local council five Chairperson urged the locals to embrace commercial farming if they are to fight poverty.
Insert…Ndibwami on Crop
The cocoa farmers say have generated more income from cocoa and have managed to educate their children and to cater for their families.
The farmers have however decried challenges of dry weather, and theft asking for government’s support to increase production.
Insert……Farmers on Cocoa
Meanwhile, the training was attended by farmers from Kagadi,Kibaale, Kikuube, Kakumiro, Kyenjonjo among other districts.
