Subsistence agriculture is the backbone of the district economy, employing 98% of the population. Arable land, which makes up about 90% of the total land area in the district is very fertile.

However, during the last twenty years, less than 1% of the land was utilized for agriculture on account of insecurity caused by the Lord's Resistance Army.

With the return of security to Northern Uganda in 2006, the situation in the district is expected to improve.

 Crops raised include

• Cotton
• Maize
• Millet
• Sorghum
• Sweet potatoes
• Cassava
• Simsim
• Beans
• Peas
• Sunflower
• Upland Rice