By Alfred Opio
PALLISA — Residents of Pallisa County have welcomed a new proposal aimed at transforming agriculture and reducing poverty among farming communities.
The proposal was put forward by the Member of Parliament for Pallisa County, Ibrahim Aisu, during an interview with our reporter, where he emphasized the need to reform agricultural programs in order to better support local farmers.
According to Aisu, there is a need to rethink some of the existing agricultural specialization programs and instead introduce broader opportunities that directly benefit ordinary farmers, especially the youth and small-scale cultivators commonly referred to as “Wanaiche.”
He explained that despite years of hard work in farming, many residents continue to earn very little from agriculture, leaving households trapped in poverty.
“Many of our people have been farming for years, but the profits are still very low. We need to create systems that ensure farmers truly benefit from whatever they grow,” Aisu said.
The legislator noted that many farmers in Pallisa have invested heavily in cash crops with hopes of improving their livelihoods, yet the returns have continued to decline due to unstable markets and other challenges affecting the agricultural sector.
“The benefits from farming have been going down, but we want to ensure that these benefits are revived so that our people can come on board and together fight poverty,” he added.
Aisu stressed that agriculture remains the backbone of the economy in Pallisa County and therefore requires stronger support from both government and stakeholders.
He emphasized the importance of empowering farmers with practical farming methods, better market opportunities, and reliable agricultural support services capable of improving productivity and household incomes.
According to the MP, introducing fair and inclusive agricultural strategies would not only improve livelihoods but also encourage more young people to actively participate in farming.
He further appealed to farmers to embrace modern farming practices and remain committed to agriculture despite the current challenges facing the sector.
“With improved planning and proper government interventions, our farmers can earn more and improve their standards of living,” he said.
Residents from different parts of Pallisa County expressed optimism about the proposed reforms, saying agriculture has become less profitable in recent years due to fluctuating market prices, poor harvest returns, and limited access to agricultural extension services.
Several community members noted that many households continue to struggle despite depending entirely on farming as their main source of income.
Some residents welcomed the idea of introducing programs that directly target ordinary farmers, arguing that such initiatives could restore hope among communities and encourage more youth to engage in agriculture.
Others called upon district leaders and government officials to ensure that any new agricultural programs are implemented fairly and transparently to benefit all communities.
Community members believe that if properly implemented, the proposed agricultural reforms could significantly reduce poverty levels and improve household incomes across Pallisa County.
