Uganda: Direct Sales Give Eastern Uganda's Cotton Farmers a Stronger Hand

What the report says

Bird Story Agency, in a report carried by AllAfrica, says cotton growers in eastern Uganda are increasingly selling through farmer groups or directly to ginneries instead of relying on village middlemen. The shift is taking place in districts including Bukedea and Pallisa and is giving some farmers more control over weighing, payment and market access, while also reducing disputes over pricing and handling.

The story centers on farmers such as Nighty Acen, who says direct sales to Iki-Iki Cotton Ginnery helped her avoid low offers and unreliable scales. The income from cotton, she said, enabled her to build an iron-roofed house, support her son’s marriage and buy oxen used for farming and hired land clearing. Other farmers and local officials described similar benefits from organized marketing, including clearer buyer relationships and less uncertainty before planting.

The report says the model has also increased the role of women in marketing decisions. In Bukedea, agricultural officer Jude Ongota said women have helped lead the initiative and brought their husbands into cotton production. Farmers including Aleje Modesta and group leaders in Wawot-Anyim and Pallisa said formal links with Lukonge Cotton Company Ltd. have provided improved seed, technical support and a more dependable outlet for harvests.

The article adds, however, that direct sales do not eliminate broader challenges. Rainfall delays, pests, seed quality, production costs and price swings continue to affect output. Background context cited in the piece notes that cotton remains an important smallholder crop in Uganda, with eastern Uganda as a major production area after the north.