Kigezi Irish Potato Farmers and Sellers are demanding the use of weighing scales during business transactions to reduce exploitation.
This was revealed on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, during a comprehensive one-day training workshop organized by Delphy, a Dutch organization specializing in Irish potato cultivation, in collaboration with Batuma Holdings Company.
The workshop was held in Murambo 1 cell, Bubare Town Council, Rubanda district, where about 200 Irish potato farmers gathered to voice their concerns and propose a solution.
Some of the farmers, who are members of the Uganda National Seed Potato Producers Association led by Bagambe Jackson, Jean Tukamushaba, and Doreen Twinobusigye, said they are exploited when selling Irish potatoes in sacks compared to using weighing scales.
Timony Nowamukama, the community project manager for Delphy Uganda, said that farmers are making huge losses while selling Irish potatoes in sacks.
Irish potato sellers from Kabale Central Market, led by Orishaba Aisha, Judith Tusingwire, Tumuranze Agnes, and Musimenta Prosy, said that selling Irish potatoes in kilograms is easier for them to detect whether they are making losses or profits.
They added that most of their customers have also embraced the use of weighing scales, calling on farmers to adopt the practice as well.
They explained that in most cases, they buy a kilogram at 1,600 shillings and sell it at 1,700 shillings, compared to selling a full sack of 120 kilograms for 300,000 shillings.
Currently, Uganda is importing Irish potatoes from Kenya and Tanzania, which the farmers attribute to wetland eviction, infertile soils, and other factors.
