Onion farmers from the Ugandan district of Rukiga are being thwarted by imports of onions that are greatly affecting the local markets. On top of this, heavy rains have been affecting their crops and increasing prices of commodities such as pesticides are further eating into their revenues. Onions in Rukiga district are mostly grown in areas Karorwa and Nyakasiro in Bukinda Sub-county, Ibumba, Kahama, and Kahanda in Rwamucucu sub-county, and Nyakitabire in Muhanga Town Council.
Farmers claim that onions exported to Uganda from countries like Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo have badly affected the local market, leading to huge losses for growers of Ugandan onions. This has caused a sharp decrease in the prices of onions bringing down a kilogram from Ugx 4.000 to Ugx 1.500.
Many farmers say they had hoped to use this season for increased productivity, but all this is in vain due to the continuous production of onions from other countries and increased commodity prices. They are now calling for their government to intervene.
[ Ugx 100 = €0.027 ]
Source: redpepper.co.ug
