By Ojara Daniel
Pader—5, December 2020: In Awere sub-county, Pader district, some group of youth are earning “a lot of money” by growing cabbage.
Some of this youth were among those trained by an NGO on how to “plant vegetables for their livelihood”.
The young farmers are between the ages of 15 and 30. Some of them are pupils and students, but currently they are at home due to Covid-19 pandemic restrictions.
Some, however, are candidates who are also going to schools to learn.
Moses Otim, who’s a senior two student at Awere SS in Omoro district, says he planted two acres of cabbage in April when schools were temporarily closed due to coronavirus. “I am now reaping big at Lalogi and Opit markets,” he told TND News’ Ojara Daniel.
Otim, who transports his cabbages using a tipper lorry, in an interview says he’s selling it all during a single market day.
“After (my) school was temporarily closed due to coronavirus in the country, i went back to my village (Lakim) and started agricultural activities based on skills i acquired from some NGOs and from school,” he told this digital publication.
And now, he is expecting Uganda shillings 10 million before school reopens for all classes maybe next year, “and the money will help me pay school fees,” he says.
According to him, there are some challenges, especially with weather, adding that “cabbage is perishable”.
“Rain is even destroying it in the garden quickly before reaching the market and even transport cost is high due to poor road in the area during this raining season,” a young farmer shares his challenges.