Congolese traders have invaded Nebbi district in hunt of cassava from gardens in exchange for Kitenge clothes. The barter trade is booming in Ndhew, Erussi and Atego sub counties. It follows a food crisis in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo as a result of an outbreak of the Cassava Brown streak disease.
45-year-old Janeth Esperah, a resident of Nebbi says that people in Eastern Congo are experiencing severe food shortages because of the effect of the Cassava brown streak Disease. She says that several farmers in Nebbi have already traded off their immature cassava gardens with the Congolese traders in exchange for Kitenge clothes that are on high demand in West Nile region.
She however says that many farmers are instead selling off the Kitenge cloths cheaply because of the high supply by the Congolese traders. Susan Acayo, a farmer in Ndhew Sub County explains that she decided to trade off her cassava garden in exchange for Kitenge clothes to provide for her family after she was abandoned by family.
She faults some farmers for trading off their cassava gardens but use the money to drink alcohol instead of helping their family. Bosco Okwai, the LC III chairman Ndhew Sub County has warned residents against trading off their cassava gardens, saying it could lead to a serious food crisis. He explains that most domestic violence cases in homes in the sub county are caused by the food shortage.
Maxwell Ogwal, the Nebbi district Police Commander says that barter trade is not outlawed in Uganda. He supports the idea of Congolese to come and buy cassava from farmers saying it will boost household incomes. A kilogram of cassava flour in DRC costs between 3000 and 4000 shillings compared to shillings 1500 in most districts in West Nile.
