Tea farming in northern Uganda gaining momentum

With government yet to consider northern Uganda as potential tea farming region, dozens of farmers have taken on the enterprise seriously.

This was after The Edwin Foundation Tea Initiative Ltd, taking the gospel to the once war ravaged region.

After decades of LRA wars, farming, both subsistence and commercial purposes was gravely interrupted, as hundreds of thousands of farming households in the region were forced to live in Internally Displaced People’s Camps (IDPCs).

After end of long war spearheaded by LRA warlord Joseph Kony, farming resumed – with no farmer thinking about tea.

However, the trend is changing, gradually.

In Loro sub county, Oyam district, there are 145 tea farmers being supported by the Edwin Foundation.

The Edwin now plans to extend its tea planting idea to more parts in the northern region, which move could foster greater development in commercial agriculture and transform the local community with the possible introduction of tea factories which would provide employment opportunities to young men and women in the surrounding districts of Nwoya, Amuru, Pader, Lamwo, Agago, Omoro, among others.

Recently, the Foundation director, Edwin Atukunda Beekunda, hosted Gulu district LC5 chairman, Martin Ojara Mapenduzi at his first tea nursery bed and training centre in Gulu, northern Uganda.

The two discussed how tea farming can be of paramount benefit to northern Uganda farmers, especially Gulu district.

Government of Uganda has named fourteen districts where it planned to establish tea factories as listed below.

Kyenjonjo – 2

Buwheju – 4

Bushenyi – 1

Rukiga – 1

Kisoro – 1

Ntugamo – 1

Kamwenge – 1

Mbarara – 1 and;

Luweero – 1