Ronnet Atukunda from Makerere Business School and lead researcher said that key among their findings was that the vast majority of fertilizers and seed samples were substandard which led to losses by farmers. She cited a farmer in Sironko district who lost 9 million Shillings due to fake fertilizers which affected the returns on investments.
She said it is essential for all coffee farmers to join cooperatives and market their produce collectively.
According to Wambi, because of the failure by farmers to join cooperatives, they have been cheated by middle men and that they lack the bargaining power and they are not in position to lobby for better markets.
Boniface Okanya, the Assistant Commissioner of Engineering and Mechanization in the Ministry of Agriculture noted that the ministry intends to build 18 more centres across the country beginning with four major including Dokolo, Masaka, Kiryandongo and Mbale districts.
According to John Musila, the Vice-chairperson of BCU, last month Mwenyi was asked by board members to present a list of primary society farmers to process their arrears for December last year to April this year, but the arrears seemed exorbitant than what the board members expected.
While handing over the tractors to beneficiaries on Thursday at the Mbale district headquarters, Gorge Wanakina the Mbale District Production Officer said the purpose of donating the tractors is to improve on agricultural mechanization and to promote commercial farming.
The advice was given by the Head of the European Union (EU) Delegation to Uganda ambassador Attilio Pacifici, this afternoon, at the beginning of a four-day retreat bringing together envoys from Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Ireland, Italy, The Kingdom of Netherlands and Sweden. The retreat is taking place at Mt. Elgon Hotel, Mbale.
Majid Busiito, the the Bubyangu Sub county LCIII chairperson told URN that he has written severally to the district informing them about the sorry state of the road but nothing has been done.
Alex Kisukulu, a farmer in Busamaga cell in Wanale Division in Mbale municipality is one of the farmers whose maize gardens have been devastated by army worms.
They attribute the increment to the fact that most of the beans on the market are imported from neighbouring countries, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo following substantial yield reductions in Busigu and Sebei regions early in the year.
In 2017, Busoba Sub County donated 3 hectares of land to Yoogi Company, a private firm to construct a starch factory. The company asked farmers to plant cassava in large quantities to feed the plant.
Enock Musundi, the former BCU Chairperson and Member of the Vetting Committee asked farmers to desist from using their Annual General Meeting for the election of new board members but rather evaluate how the union performed in the previous year.
In his ruling, Justice Tadeo concurred with the petitioners that the Nandala led board was illegally in office. He suspended the board members, saying they are not allowed to transact any business on behalf of the union. Justice Tadeo directed the BCU General Manager, Vincent Buyi to care take the union until the Registrar of Cooperatives issues a road map for the election of new board members.
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.
The ministry had ordered for the closure of all livestock markets and banned the sale of animal products. However, livestock traders in the three districts have defied the quarantine and opened new livestock markets in the districts.
The Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries Ministry closed the markets following the outbreak of the foot and mouth disease. The disease has also been reported in some parts of Mbale district.
Another officer told URN, many of them have resorted to candles, which exposes the barracks to the risk of catching fire. Suwed Manshur, the Elgon Region Public Relations Officer confirms the power crisis in the barracks.
Patrick Wanzala, a resident of Nakaloke Town Council in Mbale district told URN that his four cows presented with high fever for three days followed by blisters in the mouth and on the feet, which affected their movement.
Dr. Stephen Obbo, the Director Mbale Regional Referral Hospital has confirmed the drug stockouts. He says they currently lack anti malaria drugs, anti biotics, fluids and other medical supplies likes gloves.
