Minister Bwino revealed that the project, valued at US$ 350 million, received Cabinet approval last week and is now awaiting parliamentary endorsement for immediate implementation. 'Climate Smart Agriculture' will target 18 sub-regions, including Acholi, Karamoja, Lango, and West Nile sub-regions.
Dr. Jillian Adyeri Omalla, a farmer and Founder of Delight Uganda Limited, expressed optimism among farmers, citing the previous challenges of poor post-harvest management due to the lack of storage facilities and limited market access.
Dr. Isiah Odokorach, the Nwoya District Veterinary Officer, says that at least 50 animals presented with symptoms of the highly viral livestock disease during their assessments in three different kraals in Nyamokino Parish.
Mandulis Energy Limited has set up a 50KW mini-grid power station which is now generating electricity through the process of gasification and solar photovoltaic in a hybrid process.
According to Kilama, the disease is ravaging the indigenous cassava variety and the hybrid NASE series which are susceptible to cassava brown streak disease. He notes that the consistent outbreak of the disease has negatively impacted cassava farming in the district due to low yield arguing that it is a threat to food security and household income.
The farmers under Delight Farm say that they have been able to set up more than 1,200 acres of fruit farms including mangoes, guava, and citrus in anticipation of a fruit factory as committed by the government.
The cases were confirmed at a livestock farm in Nyamokino Parish in Lungulu Sub-county where samples from cattle suspected to have been infected were picked and tested last month. At least 50 cattle, presented with signs and symptoms of the highly contagious viral disease at the farm in early December, according to veterinary officials.
According to Kilama, although no death has been reported, they have decided to conduct thorough investigations to establish facts since some farmers could be hoarding information with the intention of making sales during the festive season.
Monica Lanyero, a farmer in Namokora Sub County told URN that she has been forced to harvest her sorghum crops one month earlier than the due time due to threats from the straying elephants.
Emmanuel Orach, the Nwoya LCV Chairperson however says their engagement with the Factory management last week revealed limited supply of cassava had greatly impacted the production of Ethanol.
NAGRC says that the land is under the Got Apwoyo Ranch and was in August this year approved by Cabinet to breed and multiply highly productive livestock, produce animal feeds, and cereal crops, diagnose, and treat animals and act as a learning center in a move to avert famine in the country.
UWA had planned to erect electric fences on the National Park’s border with the sub-counties of Purongo, Got Apwoyo, Anaka, Koch Goma, and Koch Lii all in Nwoya District.
Miriam Akello, a farmer in Ceke B Parish, Lii Sub County says that they do not sleep in their houses. She says that the elephants do not only eat the crops but also trample on them.
Dr. James Ukwir, Nwoya District Production officer and also District Veterinary officer says rainwater helped to wash away eggs and the larvae, while Bernard Maktunu, an Agricultural Officer in Got Apowyo Sub-county told URN that birds from Murchison Falls National Park have also played a great role in clearing the armyworms by eating them up.
Geoffrey Opiyo, a commercial rice farmer in Got Apwoyo Sub County told URN that last season he lost 20 acres of rice which were eaten and stamped on by some of the stray elephants.
The multibillion facility will be constructed in Got Apwoyo Government Farm in Got Apwoyo Sub-county, under the Agricultural Value Chain Development Project funded by the African Development Bank-ADB.
The decision comes nearly three weeks after several attempts employed by the district to persuade the pastoralists to voluntarily vacate the land failed.
