Sakumi Makungu Basolile is more than just a farmer; he is the Chairperson of the Union for Sunflower and Rice Farming in Kasota Council, Bugula. A lifelong resident of the area, he has farmed for decades, but it wasn’t until 2017 that his work and life took a dramatic turn.
Before sunflower farming, Sakumi planted crops like cassava, cotton, and cash fruits. Cotton, in particular, was a gamble. Planting in November and waiting until June to sell, he had to apply insecticides three times, only to receive a price dictated by the government, often too low to cover the effort. “We were farming, but the money was hard to get,” he recalls.
Then came sunflower farming through the GGML project, and it felt, in his words, “like a saviour.” Farmers received free seeds and training in 2017, with their only responsibility being weeding until harvest. The best part? They set their own prices with no government control.
Today, sunflowers are not just a crop for sale, they’re a source of food security. From his own harvest, Sakumi sets aside 20 litres of sunflower oil each year for his family’s use, enough to last the entire year. The rest is sold, alongside products like seed residue for animal feed, and seeds for planting.
A well managed acre can produce 15 bags of sunflower, each yielding about 20 litres of oil. Poorly maintained farms yield only five bags proof that care pays. His most recent harvest produced 80 litres, sold before Nane Nane Day, with an extra 20 litres reserved for the celebration. At 100,000 shillings per 20 litres, sunflowers have given him a reliable income.
The benefits ripple through his life:
- Financial stability – He uses earnings to pay school fees, build his home, and cover daily expenses.
- Health – Locally produced oil is healthier and more affordable than store-bought options.
- Community growth – The union spans seven villages Kasota, Nyakabale, Manga, Bugulula,