Kole District – At Onyut Centre, Barongin Parish in Alito Sub-county, a 68-year-old farmer, Atuma George, is proving that age is no barrier to wealth creation. Atuma has established more than four acres of cocoa and coffee, alongside 50 beehives, which together are already yielding millions of shillings annually.
Atuma, who began planting on August 1, 2025, revealed that some of his coffee trees have now started bearing seeds, signaling the beginning of harvests that could transform his household income.
“I planted cocoa and coffee two years ago, and now I am seeing the results. Soon, I will start reaping well from my sweat,” Atuma said.
Beyond his farm, Atuma has also set up a coffee mother garden that will supply seedlings to farmers across Lango. He acknowledged the support of Major (Rtd) Emmy Johnson Opio, who is spearheading the promotion of cocoa farming in the sub-region.
Atuma urged especially the youth to embrace cocoa and coffee farming as a sustainable solution to poverty.
“This is the only way for us to fight poverty. The youth should stop waiting for office jobs and instead use the land to secure their future,” he advised.
In addition to coffee and cocoa, Atuma’s 50 beehives generate more than UGX 3 million annually, money that he has used to educate his children and meet family needs.
He encouraged more people in Lango to adopt commercial farming, noting that cocoa, coffee, and beekeeping are reliable sources of wealth for rural communities.
