Shine FM
  Stream radio
Menu
Shine FM
  2. Agriculture
  3. OYAM FARMERS TRAINED IN COCOA PRODUCTION AND MARKET PROTECTION

OYAM FARMERS TRAINED IN COCOA PRODUCTION AND MARKET PROTECTION

27 February 2026, 10:41 pm

By EMAN YONAH ORUK

A selected cocoa growers from Sub county and town council in oyam District attending training at Rainbow hotel oyam town

Farmers in Oyam District have received training in cocoa production and market protection, with assurances of market support. The training, held yesterday, February 26, 2026, at Rainbow Hotel in Oyam Town Council, was organized by the Italian company High Come Chocolate through Adagani Grow Company. Selected farmers from across Oyam benefited from the program.

Mike Atama, a consultant with Hycome Chocolate Uganda Limited, explained that he was sent to Oyam to train farmers on cocoa planning, protecting established cocoa, and avoiding harmful use of agrochemicals. He advised participants to share the knowledge with other cocoa producers who did not attend.

John Okullo Okwenye, chairperson of the Oyam Cocoa Growers Association, confirmed that representatives from all sub-counties and town councils in Oyam gained valuable knowledge and urged them to put the training into practice.

Martin Abila, a cocoa grower from Oyam North, said the training motivated him to continue farming cocoa. He encouraged the people of Oyam and Lango to embrace cocoa production, adding that he plans to plant 200 more stems this year to expand beyond the 21 he already has.

Assistant RDC oyam Tenywa Ayubu, in his closing remarks, emphasized mindset change, urging farmers not to depend only on annual cereal crops like soybeans and simsim but to commercialize perennial cash crops such as cocoa and coffee as a way of eliminating poverty and joining the money economy. He highlighted cocoa production as a long-term investment, likening it to a pension since harvesting continues for 20 to 30 years.

Ayubu also stressed minimizing agricultural costs by using farmyard manure such as cow dung, chicken droppings, compost manure from rubbish pits, and mulching to reduce reliance on artificial fertilizers.

Conclusively he further advised on timely weeding, market availability, forming farmers’ SACCOs, and mobilizing and sensitizing other farmers to embrace cocoa growing.