ERUTE NORTH, UGANDA – In a targeted move to decentralize wealth creation, Parliamentary aspirant Major (Rtd) Emmy Johnson Opio has launched a detailed "Village Cocoa Drive," pledging to provide 200 cocoa seedlings each to 45 carefully selected farmers in every village across the constituency.
The initiative, which forms the grassroots backbone of Opio's larger agricultural transformation agenda, is designed to ensure the economic benefits of cocoa farming reach every parish, creating a dense network of small-scale agri-entrepreneurs.
"The future of Erute North is not in a few large plantations, but in hundreds of thriving family farms," Major Opio declared while addressing a gathering of local councilors. "By empowering 45 farmers in every village with a solid foundation of 200 seedlings each, we are not just planting trees; we are planting sustainable income, we are planting wealth at the household level, and we are planting a new legacy for our children."
The selection of the 45 farmers per village will be managed in collaboration with Local Council One (LC1) leaders to ensure transparency and target residents with a genuine interest and capacity for farming. The figure of 200 seedlings is calculated to be a manageable and highly productive start for a family, with the potential to generate significant annual income once the trees mature and begin fruiting.
This village-specific model is a key component of Opio's broader ambition to see over 100,000 acres of cocoa established in Erute North and to distribute 3 million seedlings in the coming year. The plan demonstrates a clear, scalable strategy: start with a core group in every village, provide them with the necessary resources, and foster a community-wide multiplier effect as their success inspires others.
Local leaders have welcomed the structured approach. "This is what we have been waiting for—a plan that leaves no village behind," said one LC1 Chairperson from Aromo. "Knowing that 45 of our own will be kick-started into this lucrative business gives our entire community hope."
With this village-level rollout, Major Opio is making a tangible pitch to the electorate, framing his candidacy not just on promises, but on a clear and actionable blueprint for agricultural prosperity, one village and one seedling at a time.
Understanding that success requires knowledge, Major Opio recently facilitated a groundbreaking benchmarking tour for 40 selected farmers from Aromo, Agweng, Ogur, and Ayami. The delegation, which included local "men of God" and community leaders, traveled to the Kingdom of Buganda, Uganda's traditional hub of cocoa cultivation.
"The goal was simple: to see success, touch it, and believe it is possible here," Major Opio stated. "Our farmers interacted with their counterparts in Buganda and returned not just informed, but ignited with a willingness to grow cocoa. They are now the apostles of this new cash crop in their respective parishes."
