Agriculture: MPs urge gov’t to invest more in irrigation technologies
LIRA – Legislators on Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture have advised government to put more money into irrigation technologies to boost agricultural production continues even during dry seasons.
They also called upon government through the Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries [MAAIF] to provide agricultural machinery and related technologies, saying most farmers are too poor to do it on their own.
Visiting key areas in the Lango Sub-region where government is engaged in massive food production, the MPs said there is a need for a paradigm shift in the way the government programmes are implemented to achieve better results.
The committee’s vice chairperson, Dr. Agnes Apea, also Amolatar district Woman MP, led the members as they visited former Aloi Ongom Citrus Farm in Alebtong where Uganda Prisons Service has planted 300 acres of maize at Ngetta Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute [ZARDI] in Lira City.
Ngetta ZARDI is also producing soybeans.
MP Apea said there is a need for mechanization and irrigation at ZARDI much as the maize was doing fine in the gardens due to rains.
“The maize is surviving now because this season we have enough rain. I want to say that government should consider providing irrigation equipment and other agricultural machinery to these agencies and the farmers,” she said.
The director of Ngetta ZARDI, Dr. Laban Turygenda also concurred with the MPs saying that due to the recent prolonged drought in Lango and Acholi Sub regions, crops failed, leading to hunger.
He said farmers in northern Uganda face the challenge of food insecurity caused by drought, traditional farming methods, and poor seeds that do not germinate, making farmers suffer losses.
He also urged the government to give Ngetta ZARDI a mandate to inspect the quality of seeds produced by private seed companies so that farmers are protected.
https://thecooperator.news/lira-cooperative-society-asks-govt-to-establish-irrigation-schemes/
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