Cotton farmers decry fluctuating prices

Agago, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | At least 60,000 cotton farmers in Acholi who were enticed by last season’s price are crying foul over the drastic fall in price. In September 2021, the Cotton Development Organization-CDO set the indicative price of a kilogram of cotton at Shillings 2,000 ,to help regulate its farm gate price and eliminate the exploitation of farmers by middlemen.

However, by November, the price had risen to Shillings 3,000, a price that was last enjoyed by cotton farmers in 2011. Because of the high price last season, many farmers decided to join the trade, hoping to enjoy the same price as last year.

In October 2022, Cotton Development Organisation-CDO announced the indicative price of a kilogram of cotton at Shillings 2,300, but the price is lower. Caesar Okello, the chairperson of Patongo sub county farmers, says that although CDO announced the price of 2,300, middlemen are insisting on Shillings 1,800, which is frustrating farmers.

Okello appealed to the government to intervene, saying the farmers inject a lot of money into cotton growing but the rewards are always very small.

Raymond Okot, a farmer in Adilang town council, Agago district decried the ever-fluctuating price of cotton every year..

Okot noted that it is painful that the good price is only used as bait to attract farmers to grow the crop, but during the buying window, prices drop by half.

Okot explained that cotton farmers cannot even hoard their cotton to wait for possible improvements in price, because with cotton, the price increase is always a dream.

According to Okot, those who harvested last month sold between Shillings 2,300 and 2,500, now is its Shillings 1,800 and he fears it might even drop further.

Kamilo Kinyera, the coordinator of CDO in Agago district, said on October 11, all ginners were told that a kilogram of cotton lint would sell at a minimum of Shillings 2,300. According to Kinyera, they have put a notice in public places like markets and places of worship, and also told the LCs to inform cotton farmers about the same.

He explained that initially, middlemen were buying cotton at the set price, but they suddenly started cheating farmers.

Kinyera said another meeting has been scheduled for November 15th between farmers and ginners on the fluctuation. Douglas Bhosopo, the seeds inspector at Uganda Cotton Ginners and Exporters Association told Uganda Radio Network on Monday that because of the good price last season, between 60,000 to 70,000 farmers planted cotton this season, compared to only about 30,000 last season.

Bhosopo however said the fall in cotton price is an issue of “demand and supply,” in the world market, and because Uganda does not add value to its cotton, it is difficult for them to determine the price.

He however said the price is gradually increasing, and they have announced that buyers offer at least Shillings 2,000 for a kilogram of cotton.

*****

URN