Major(Rtd) Emmy Opio Erute North MP Aspirant Trains Church Leaders On Coca Farming

LIRA, UGANDA: After retiring from the army, Major (RTD) Emmanuel Opio chose a different path unlike others who moved to cities to enjoy their benefits. Instead, he established his base in the village of Agweng, Lira District, with a mission to promote President Museveni’s message on wealth creation and ensure community benefit from it.

A firm believer in the power of commercial farming, Opio is actively engaging with various community members to educate them about agricultural practices, particularly focusing on coffee and cocoa cultivation. Remarkably, without any external funding, this dedicated soldier has trained over 1,000 farmers in the region on nursery bed preparation and the care of cocoa farms, all aimed at alleviating poverty in his community.

On Monday, December 23, 2024, Major (RTD) Emmanuel Opio, who is also considering to run for the Erute North Parliamentary seat, conducted a training session for Anglican church leaders in Agweng subcounty on growing cocoa and coffee to help combat poverty among their congregations. 

During a four-hour session that combined both practical and theoretical learning, he emphasized to representatives from 12 churches in Agweng that cocoa is one of the world’s leading cash crops, with readily available markets. 

He encouraged them to motivate their congregations to embrace this initiative. 

Drawing inspiration from President Museveni, Opio refuted claims that cocoa and coffee do not grow well in northern Uganda.

 He urged the church leaders to share the positive message of cocoa farming with their members and offered to provide cocoa seedlings to support church farming efforts. 

Opio took , clergymen to his demonstrates area within the school where he has planted more than 20 seedlings and a nursery bed for coca seedlings established by himself.

In an interview with this publication, he expressed his commitment to empowering the community with skills to combat poverty. His mission focuses on promoting the cultivation of cocoa and coffee to enhance the livelihoods of local residents. This initiative aligns with the objectives of the Lango Diocese, which aims to alleviate poverty through agricultural practices. Recently, the Bishop of Lango Diocese, Rt. Rev. Prof. Dr. Alfred Olwa, encouraged Christians to engage in the cultivation of both food and cash crops.

Anna Ogwang, one of the community members, expressed her gratitude to Opio for providing this knowledge at no cost. She pledged to encourage her fellow church members to participate in the program, with the goal of establishing their own cocoa farms.

Major (Rtd) Emmanuel Opio has become a beacon of hope for the Erute North community, where many have lost faith in achieving financial success. Those who have benefited from his efforts now serve as ambassadors for his cause. During our visit to him in Agweng, we observed that this retired soldier is actively meeting with groups daily to disseminate the message of commercial agriculture. Notably, farmers who previously lacked confidence in market access are now assured, as he has successfully secured markets for cocoa and coffee.