AROMO, ERUTE NORTH – In a bid to transform local livelihoods and combat poverty, the Aromo Sub-County Cooperative Society has officially launched its communal cocoa nursery bed. The initiative aims to provide high-quality seedlings to its 86 members, with an ambitious target for each farmer to establish at least one acre of cocoa.
Chairperson Bonny Okello announced the project, framing it as a direct pathway to financial stability for families in Erute North. "With cocoa growing, many people will be able to pay school fees for their children and fight poverty effectively," Okello stated. He emphasized that the nursery was critical to ensuring every member had access to the seedlings needed to meet the one-acre goal.
The cooperative's efforts are closely tied to the mentorship of Retired Major Emmy Johnson Opio, whom members credited for introducing cocoa farming to the area. In a significant political endorsement, the farmers declared their intention to reward his "good leadership" with votes in the upcoming election.
"It was Major Retired Emmy Johnson Opio who introduced cocoa to us. He has shown us the way, and now we will support his way by giving him our votes so he can lead us in Parliament," Okello explained, reinforcing the link between agricultural development and political representation. "It is high time the people of Erute North elected Maj. Opio for the good and betterment of our community."
Okello reinstated that the cocoa drive is central to Opio's broader vision for eradicating poverty in the Lango sub-region and Northern Uganda.
Echoing the chairperson's sentiments, Denis Opio from Aler urged unity among the cooperators. "We must stay united in what we are doing. With unity, we will benefit a lot from this cocoa initiative," he said. He also connected the project's success to the political landscape, adding, "Voting for Major Opio will be of great benefit for the people of Erute North."
The launch of the nursery marks a tangible step in a development model where agricultural empowerment and political advocacy are seen as intertwined strategies for regional progress.
