Otuke Residents Reject Poor Quality Goats

OTUKE – Residents of Olilim sub-county, Otuke district have rejected goats delivered to them under the Development Discretionary Equalization Grant (DDEG). The move to give out the goats to the beneficiaries hit a deadlock after residents labelled the development, a systematic approach to swindle government money.

In the last financial year, Otuke District Local Government (DLG) signed an agreement with Alfonse Line Limited to deliver 62 goats valued at Shs 150,000 each. However, on Thursday the beneficiaries declined to receive the goats saying they are of poor quality and sickly.

Some of the angry beneficiaries argued that the goats are too young and sickly to survive under their care. They argue that the supplier was given money to purchase reasonably grown goats instead of really young ones.

https://thecooperator.news/grape-farmers-demand-for-a-fgractory/

Okwir Dyegi, a resident of Got- Ojwang parish says that the goats have no value for money. He claims that each goat could have been purchased at Shs 25,000 and not Shs 150,000 as indicated in the contract.

“Olilim sub-county had budgeted for each goat to be bought at Shs 150,000 but this man brought goats which I am sure, he bought at Shs 25,000 each,” Okwir a Lira based businessman suspected.

“We suggested to him that since he brought small goats, he should give each person an additional Shs 50,000 but he refused. He told us to watch out after 5 years he will be having many goats out of these and we told him to go with the animals.” he adds.

Francis Otyam, the LCIII Chairperson of Olilim Sub County says that the supplier will only receive his payment upon delivering good breeds.

“I and my local people refused to receive the goats because they are very small. We budgeted for big goats which would cost at least Shs 150,000 but I do not think what the supplier brought are more than 4 months old and for that reason, I blame the District Veterinary Officer (DVO) for recommending poor quality breeds for the community.

“How do they expect the community to look after these animals? So, I told the contractor to take the animals back and only deliver when he has good quality. The good news is that his money is still in the sub county’s general fund account and we shall have an emergency meeting to inform the sub-county chief not to pay him.”

But Francis Okello, the supplier says that they failed to purchase quality goats due to the closure of livestock market. The project under DDGF was estimated to cost Shs 93, 000,000 million. DDEG is a revolving program targeting the poor and unemployed youth. It focuses on agriculture and the projects invested are income-generating projects like farming, poultry and value addition.

Buy your copy of theCooperator magazine from one of our countrywide vending points or an e-copy on emag.thecooperator.news

The post Otuke Residents Reject Poor Quality Goats appeared first on The Cooperator News.

Gulu University Stuck With 11 Tons Of Mango Juice

GULU – Gulu University is stuck with 11 tons of mango juice over limited markets in Acholi Sub Region.

The University with support from Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) acquired a mobile juice processing plant from Makerere University in June this year.

The University juice processing pilot study saw 20 tons of the mango juice produced in June; 9 tons have gone into the market while 11 more tons are still stocked.

Dr. Collins Okello, the Dean Faculty of Agriculture and Environment at the university told the Parliamentary Committee for Covid-19 who visited the University on last Friday.

Okello explained that the limited market is threatening the university which could lose over 70 million within the next three months if the product fails to navigate its juice markets.

https://thecooperator.news/public-private-partnership-for-shea-value-addition/

“The preservation is only best within three months and we expect to sell them if we are to avoid losses but the challenge again comes with limited markets” Okello added.

He described the initiative as a step towards the food processing industry that the university looks forward to establish in the future and asked the government to support the production.

“Many of the local farmers who did not have a market for their mango fruits got access to a bigger market with the university and the support is viable” Okello added.

Okello, however asked both the government and the private partners to invest in food processing plants in the region; a move he says will boost commercial viability of the locals.

The University Vice Chancellor George Openjuru Ladaa, however explained that the University is focusing on research for transforming the livelihoods of the Community.

The Labwor County Member of Parliament (MP), Noman Ochero who doubles as a member of the Parliamentary Health Committee has asked the government to prioritize support for research and innovations for study with solution-based approaches in the country.

However, the juice processor which was piloted was able to produce 30 tons of mango fruits while a kilogram of mango went to 500 shillings which is opposed to the previous sale of 500 shilling per basin.

Alfred Okwonga, the Gulu City Council Mayor guaranteed the land acquisition by the university for its expansion which had stalled for nearly 20 years.

Buy your copy of theCooperator magazine from one of our countrywide vending points or an e-copy on emag.thecooperator.news

The post Gulu University Stuck With 11 Tons Of Mango Juice appeared first on The Cooperator News.