Dr. Evelyn Lutalo, the chairperson Association of Uganda Women Professionals in Agriculture and Environment-AUWPAE says that despite the government efforts to enact and put in place policies that can help to prevent the use of HHPs, this is still insufficient.
James Kanyije, the Chief Executive Officer KK Fresh Produce Exporters Ltd, says they are worried that farmers could abandon agriculture due to the glitch in the market.
The farmers usually harvest the highly prized crop between June and July. A Kilogram of fresh vanilla fibre costs more than Shillings 200,000 on the market. Middlemen buy a kilogram at around 160,000 Shillings while established companies can buy it at as much as 200,000 Shillings per kilogram.
Henry Mutabazi, a farmer in Mubuku says he has failed to access the K bean seed variety in local markets.
He is worried that the lack of good bean seeds puts a great economic risk to bean farmers and households in general.
The elephants raided Rutooke and Busambu vilages in Muhokya sub county where they destroyed gardens of tomatoes, Cotton, maize, vanilla and banana plantations.
Emmanuel Agaba, one of the change agents says the residents have put up disaster management committees manned by volunteers who continue to sensitize residents to protect River Mubuku and its tributaries.
In Bunyoro, Chimpanzees are found around Bugoma Forest Reserve in Kikuube district and Budongo Forest Reserve in Masindi district, among other places. The animals use small forest fragments along watercourses throughout the region, both on private or communal land and in small government reserves.
Museveni says it’s unfortunate that in region full of potentials ranging from the good climate to fertile soils the people there continue to wade in poverty and unemployment.
URN has seen an April 30th, 2019 letter by Luweero Chief Administrative Officer, Godfrey Kuruhiira recommending five groups to the NAADS secretariat for consideration. They included Bakyabumba Farmers’ Cooperative Society Limited, Luweero District Farmers’ Association and Luweero Pineapples Farmer’s and Traders Association, James Kakooza, a Nucleus farmer and Zirobwe Agali Awamu and Training Association.
Godfrey Kahiiga, a cattle farmer from Kigorobya Sub County says all the dams and wells where their animals would access drinking water have dried up forcing them to trek close to over 10km in search of water for their animals daily.
The company contracted more than 700 farmers in Hoima district in January 2019, to grow tobacco and granted them loans which would be recoverable upon the sale of their produce.
Tom Kayira Acire, a farmer in Poba Parish, Tegot Kwera South in Agoro Sub-county says he planted rice this season but notes that he is sceptical of getting bumper harvest due to the heavy rainfalls.
James Tusingwire, a farmer in Buswekera cell in Busiisi division Hoima Municipality wants the government to sensitize the farmers on what they should supply to the oil and gas sector or else most farmers could be left out.
While droughts are uncommon in Hoima, the length and severity of the dry conditions since September last year have strained cattle farmers. They endured dry conditions for more than five months, hand feeding their animals and forced to sell down stock as they run out of pasture and water during the prolonged dry spell.
However, most individuals in the Albertine region owning businesses are ignorant on how they can get registered on the NSD. They fault the government for not doing enough to sensitize them about the database.
