Kasese Youths Seek Gov’t Support to Join Commercial Agriculture

Many of the youths in these sectors say that their activities were greatly affected by the COVID-19 lockdown, and as a result, they depleted their saving, yet the government has maintained a ban on their operations. They now wish to turn to commercial agriculture for survival.

Despite claims by national oil palm project that the compensation was completed, some residents are still hesitant to vacate claiming that their land and properties were poorly evaluated and want their land resurveyed.

Unlike, other districts of Karamoja, Nakapiripirit experiences two planting seasons in a year. Farmers in the district mainly grow beans, maize, cassava and other crops while most districts in Karamoja majorly grow sorghum.

The use of monofilament nets was banned as part of the measures to prevent depletion of stocks arising from the collection of immature fish and other water species.

But many of the farmers are now struggling as the cost of a bunch of Matooke hit the lowest mark going for as low as 2,000 Shillings from 15,000 to 25,000 before the lockdown. The farmers say that although the price drops are expected during the peak harvest season running from June to August, the drop this year is unprecedented.

According to Sylvia Kirabo the spokesperson of UNBS, the move is aimed at taking services closer to their clients, many of whom have been facing challenges to get their products certified.

Recently the Fisheries Protection Unit and Ministry of Fisheries selected one person Medi Kyalimpa alias Aloni Mohamed to build the boats for fishermen in Nakasongola district.