"Uganda must quickly sort out the Soroti Fruit Factory crisis"
"The government should quickly step in and sort out the problems of orange and mango fruit farmers in Teso sub-region. The project that should have secured a ready market, quick sales and quick money to the farmers, has instead ruined their hopes. Delayed releases of funds, the buying of factory equipment, construction work, and the recruitment of extension workers have frustrated the project."
"So far, poor project planning, evaluation and review have retarded the Soroti Fruit Factory in Arapai Industrial Park, Soroti District. Just what could have failed this noble government project since ground breaking in 2014, with construction planned for 2016, and commercial production set for November 2016?"
"Indeed, this Shs24 billion rural income-generating project is commendable and was meant to tap into the comparative advantage of the region as the leading producer of citrus fruits in Uganda. Similarly, the local farmer could enrich our supermarkets and shops with home-made ready-to-drink juice with some spare for external markets."
"But it's regrettable that farmers meant to be rescued from poverty are instead being pushed into poverty by this grand project. The government's pronouncement that the project will, after all, be up and running in November, one year after schedule, will be a hard sell to the farmers."
"Both the government and the Teso Tropical Fruit Cooperative Union should revive the farmers' faith and be more convincing that they will be more serious and the project will turn around their fortunes next November. The farmers will genuinely be sceptical after they invested for nothing and suffered losses after opening acres of land, planted, and painstakingly tended both oranges and mangoes."
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