Yei County farmers are concerned about the schedule for distributing cocoa nursery plants

The State Ministry of Cooperatives and Rural Development has announced its intention to distribute 250,000 cocoa nursery plants among cooperative and progressive farmers across six counties of the state. This initiative aims to stimulate agricultural production and diversify the economy.

Local farmers view the initiative positively, but express doubts about its success due to poor timing. According to farmer Hakim Julius, the nursery plants must be planted in May and June under conditions of sufficient rainfall, whereas planting on the eve of the dry period will complicate plant care. Another farmer, Justin Alhaj, noted that rural areas lack systems and equipment for artificial irrigation, which may lead to the death of the nursery plants.

Director of Agriculture and Forestry for Yei County Asiki Isaac acknowledged the farmers' concerns, but urged them to apply innovative farming methods throughout the year. He reported that county authorities are cooperating with the Ministry of Cooperatives and Rural Development Service to ensure the smooth distribution of planting material despite the shifted schedules.

The cocoa nursery plant distribution program is being implemented as part of the authorities' strategy to develop cash crop production, increase farmers' incomes, and move away from purely subsistence farming. Nevertheless, farmers emphasize that the effectiveness of the project depends on the timeliness of its implementation and the availability of state support, including the organization of irrigation systems.