Oil palm workers managing the nursery beds at Buvuma.
Over 60 oil palm out-growers in Buvuma district have decried the delayed loans from the National Oil Palm Project-NOPP to maintain their plantations.
The farmers are among the first group of out-growers who received seedlings to establish oil palm gardens in Buvuma District. But before establishing plantations, they were promised 2 million Shillings per acre of land as labour fees for maintaining the gardens.
Mustafa Kasiiba, a farmer from Busamuzi sub-county who planted over 200 trees on 4 acres of land says they had to receive the money in October last year. But, they only received fertilizers as additional farm input which he says cannot be applied to palm trees that are covered in bushes.
Kasiiba is worried that most of his planted seedlings have started developing a yellowish colour which may result in poor yields.
Another farmer, Yahudu Muyima says that in the process of establishing the gardens, they sold off their belongings and they are currently left with nothing to support the maintenance of the gardens. He appeals to the National Oil Palm Project to come to their rescue.
The National Oil Palm Project Coordinator in Buvuma, Gerald Epai says farmers who received seedlings in the first batch confirmed their ability to care for the gardens as they process the funding from International Fund for Agricultural Development-IFAD. He appeals to all challenged farmers to approach the out-growers Sacco for quick loans.
Out-growers in Buvuma started planting oil palm trees in May last year. currently, new beds for seedlings are also ready for planting. Buvuma oil palm island project will be established on 7, 500 hectares with 5, 000 dedicated to the nucleus and 2, 500 for out-growers.
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