Outgrowers cry out over unpaid sugarcane harvests
Construction. The ongoing construction of Atiak Sugar Factory in Amuru District. PHOTO BY JAMES OWICH
What you need to know:
- Issue. The farmers say for the past three years, they have not realised any benefit from the factory because they have never been paid any money and no one has given them an explanation.
Amuru. Sugarcane outgrowers from Acholi sub-region have raised concern over the delayed operation of Atiak Sugar Factory under Haryal Investment Holdings Ltd.
More than 4,000 outgrowers were contracted in 2016 to grow and sell sugarcane for five years to Atiak Sugar Factory in the districts of Amuru, Lamwo, Gulu and Adjumani.
However, the farmers say for the past three years, they have not realised any benefit from the factory.
Ms Angel Stella Lanam, one of the formerly abducted persons and member of the Atiak Sugarcane Planting Outgrowers’ Cooperative Ltd, said her efforts in sugarcane planting have not yielded any benefit.
“For 2017 and 2018 planting seasons, the management of Atiak Sugar Factory harvested the sugarcanes that we planted but never paid us any money, we tried asking why they did not pay us but no one has come to give us an explanation,” she said.
Mr James Onen, another outgrower from Amuru, says he is now stranded after investing his time on the sugarcane growing without any pay.
But Ms Joyce Santa Laker, the chairperson Atiak Sugar Outgrowers’ Cooperative Ltd, said there was no way the outgrowers could be paid money when the factory had not sold any sugarcane.
She, however, assured farmers that they will start earning in June this year when Atiak Sugar Factory starts buying sugarcane from them.
Last year, a total of 15,000 acres of land was cultivated for sugarcane growing with about 4,000 acres utilised by outgrowers.
Ms Amina Moghe Hersi, the Atiak Sugar Factory owner, last week disclosed that they will not only engage in sugarcane growing but also food production in crops such as maize and sim sim, adding that the region will be transformed into a food basket.
A total of 300 outgrowers in last year went to Parliament seeking intervention over delayed operation of the Factory.
Investment
The government has so far invested Shs25b in farmers through the National Agricultural Advisory Services in opening more than 23,841 acres for sugarcane plantation in Amuru and Lamwo districts.
It is currently seeking parliamentary approval of Shs24b additional funding to inject in Atiak Sugar Factory, which it holds up to 32 per cent in shareholding.
