Koboko Cocoa Cooperative Brings West Nile Farmers Together for Three-Day Training

KOBOKO, UGANDA — The Koboko Cocoa Farmers Cooperative has brought together cocoa farmers from across West Nile for a three-day training aimed at strengthening their knowledge and practical skills in cocoa production.

The training has attracted farmers from Koboko, Yumbe, Maracha, Terego, Arua City and Arua District, providing a platform for growers from different parts of the region to learn improved cocoa farming practices, exchange experiences and discuss ways of improving production and the quality of cocoa.

One of the facilitators leading the training is William Aliku, whose lively and practical presentation has received strong appreciation from participating farmers. Aliku has presented the training in an interactive manner, breaking down technical aspects of cocoa production into simple and practical lessons that farmers can easily understand and apply in their gardens. His presentation has encouraged farmers to participate actively, ask questions and share experiences from their own farms.

Rather than turning the training into a one-way lecture, Aliku has maintained an engaging atmosphere, with farmers responding through questions, contributions and discussions. His ability to connect technical farming knowledge with the everyday experiences of cocoa growers has made his sessions particularly engaging.

Farmers have praised his presentation for being clear, practical and easy to follow, saying the approach is helping them better understand what they need to do once they return to their cocoa gardens.

Arike Robert urges farmers to listen and implement

Speaking during the training, Arike Robert, the cooperative's Treasurer, urged farmers to remain focused and take the lessons seriously, emphasizing that the knowledge gained during the training would only be valuable if it was put into practice in their gardens.

Arike reminded the farmers that they would not have the opportunity to sit down and read notes while working in their cocoa gardens. Instead, he encouraged them to listen carefully during the training and keep the important lessons in their minds so that they can remember and implement them in the field.

He urged farmers to concentrate on the presentations, absorb the knowledge being shared by the facilitators and translate it into practical action once they return to their farms.

The message resonated with the purpose of the training, which is not simply to provide farmers with information but to equip them with practical knowledge that can improve cocoa production at farm level.

The training has also provided an opportunity for farmers from different parts of West Nile to interact and share experiences about the opportunities and challenges affecting cocoa production in their respective areas.

Cooperative announces September 7,2026 AGM

Arike also used the training to remind members about the cooperative's forthcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM). He announced that the AGM will be held on September 7, 2026 at KODFA and called upon all cooperative members to attend.

He urged members to treat the meeting as an important opportunity to participate in the affairs of their cooperative, receive updates and contribute to discussions concerning its future.

The call for members to attend the AGM comes as the cooperative continues to strengthen its organization while supporting farmers to improve cocoa production across West Nile.

With farmers from Koboko, Yumbe, Maracha, Terego, Arua City and Arua District participating in the three-day programme, the training reflects the growing interest in cocoa farming as an important agricultural activity and potential source of income for communities across the region.

For the farmers, the lessons from the training are expected to go beyond the classroom, with participants encouraged to take the knowledge back to their gardens and put it into practice.