Uganda, April 17 -- The fluctuation of sugarcane prices in the Busoga Sub-region has compelled farmers to abandon the crop for oil palm growing.

Currently, a tonne of sugarcane costs Shs150,000 down from Shs240,000 in December 2023.

The focal person of the National Oil Palm Project for Mayuge District Hub, Mr Thomas Aram, said currently 4,000 farmers have resorted to oil palm farming.

Mr Aram said so far, 7,000 acres have been allocated by farmers for the oil palm project.

"Of the 7,000 acres which have been pledged, we have so far surveyed 3,500 acres in all the sub-counties of Mayuge District,'' he said.

The chairperson of Mayuge District Oil Palm Growing Cooperative Society Limited, Mr Moses Mabanda, said oil palm is harvested twi...