Zombo Tea GCS signs tea agreement with EFOTI

Speaking to TND News Tuesday, Mr Atukunda assured farmers of ready markets for green leaves.

Zombo – 16, April 2021: On 10 April 2021, Zombo Tea Growers Cooperative Society Limited (ZTGCS Limited) became the latest farmer association in Northern Uganda to sign an investment pact with the Edwin Foundation Tea Initiative Limited, commonly known as EFOTI.

ZTGCS Limited joins Gulu University, Prime SACCO in Gulu and NARO, among others in signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU.

The EFOTI director, Mr Edwin Atukunda Beekunda describes the latest MoU signing: “A significant move in promoting tea project in Northern Uganda.”

With over three decades of experience in tea industry, Mr Atukunda believes that with the “overwhelming concerns and needs to grow tea by many people”, Northern Uganda will soon become a “region attracting tea farmers and stakeholders countrywide” from where they will obtain knowledge and skills.

“Both parties will undertake a joint investment and effective utilisation of available resources for agricultural production for sustainable and profitable tea production, processing, marketing and value added tea,” the MoU reads in part.

“Conduct appropriate research where necessary to promote tea production, processing, marketing and value addition,” the agreement further reads.

EFOTI as a knowledge firm is to provide specific extension services to farmers within West Nile sub-region, in addition to closely working with other stakeholders to build capacity of farmers and other extension service providers.

Speaking to TND News Tuesday, Mr Atukunda assured farmers of ready markets for green leaves.

For many years now, EFOTI and her founding director, Mr Atukunda worked with Uganda Prisons Service (farms), NAADS/OWC, Alur Kingdom in “preaching tea gospel”.

It has also worked (in) with Kamwenge district local government, and currently working with Zombo, and Gulu district local governments, respectively.

Both EFOTI, farmers and stakeholders are requesting government through UDC and Ministry of Trade, Cooperatives and Industry to build a tea factory in Northern Uganda.

With abundant green leaves, and hundreds of acres ready for harvesting, especially in Zombo district, farmers are counting losses since there’s no factory or companies buying it.