Magyezi pledged to liaise with the PDM secretariat and the ministry of agriculture officials to ensure that farmers have ready access to modern agriculture technologies aimed at enabling them to generate more incomes from small pieces of land.
The farmers note that, unlike the bureaucratic system of selling sugarcane, which involves powerful middlemen to procure sale permits at the expense of smallholder farmers, cocoa exporters directly purchase the fruits from the farmers, hence enabling them to individually negotiate for competitive prices.
Hass Avocado is a variety said to be incredibly nutritious and containing potassium, heart-healthy acids as well as fibre. The variety with a dark green coloured rough surface matures after two years and a single mature tree can produce more than 500kg fruits under good agronomic management practices.
Busiro North which includes Sub Counties of Kakiri, Masulita and Namuyuma is known to have vast pieces of land much of which lie idol although it’s occupants are hard hit with poverty. The area with fertile soils is part of the Luweero Triangle which was greatly affected by the 1980 bush war and for the last thirty years, the area has remained almost less productive with residents blaming all their misfortunes to the war.
The Ministry of Agriculture has since passed out information warning the entire populace to stock enough food. However, the warning might have come in late as many people are likely to have already sold off a number of crops harvested in the recent farming season. Uganda last experienced a major locust invasion in 1961, with immense damage on crops which resulted in acute hunger.
Patrick Waiswa, the LC 1 chairperson Nakasedere village says the area is surrounded by sugarcane plantations but the few farmers involved in food crop growing are counting losses due to the wilt infestation.
Eng. Nicholas Lubanga, one of the officials from the Water and Environment Ministry overseeing the project, says the mistakes that lead to loss of the crops could be expected since it was the first time for the farmers to interface with irrigation technology.
Celestine Bagampiire, a farmer and Bumbaire Sub County LC III Chairperson, says they had high hopes in the initiative but 10 years down the road it hasn’t helped them.
The district which has been engaged in coffee growing business but a section of the farmers in the area either abandoned the business for Banana growing and other crops sighting unreliable prices.
Geoffrey Bagenda, the LC 1 Chairperson Nyarubale village, says they are facing famine unless something is done since they lost most of their crops in the rain.
On Friday, Saleh had sought to get views from the councillors on a single project that can be funded by OWC. He told the councillors that he wants a self-sustaining project that is able to fetch enough income for the municipality each month.
Akol says Vaccination with attenuated virus in time offers control to the Lumpy Skin disease. He however, says that although the district is trying to overcome the problem, they still face a challenge of low response from the farmers.
In Mbale, a kilogram of Irish potatoes goes for Shillings 600 on wholesale and Shillings 700 on retail. Farmers attribute the low price of Irish Potatoes in the region to increased supply from Mbale and Kween districts.
Issa Budhugo, the Chairperson Busoga Sugar Cane Growers Association-BUSGA, says they are unwilling to pay the withholding tax because it amounts to double taxation.
Turyeingana, a resident of Kibingwe cell, in Kabale District is said to have sold a heifer that was given to his wife Adellah Aheisibwe last year as part of the government program started to enhance household participation in commercial agricultural production. The heifer was valued at 1.8 million Shillings.
