Uganda: Direct Sales Give Eastern Uganda's Cotton Farmers a Stronger Hand

Cotton farmers in eastern Uganda are bypassing village middlemen by selling directly to ginneries, allowing them greater control over weighing, payment, and market access. Nighty Acen, a farmer, has used her earnings to build a house, contribute to her son's marriage, and buy oxen. This direct sales model is transforming the cotton trade in the region, supporting an estimated 150,000 to 200,000 smallholder households.