Don’t invest PDM money in cotton growing, Kasese beneficiaries warned

KASESE – The beneficiaries of the Parish Development Model [PDM] in Kasese district have been warned not to invest the funds in cotton growing.

The State Minister for ICT and National Guidance, Godfrey Kabbyanga told the PDM beneficiaries that cotton fetches very low prices and should be left for people who have big chunks of land.

“To earn good money from cotton you need to have a big piece of land. But still cotton has so many challenges. You may invest your money in it, and it does not yield as expected because of many factors. So it is better you don’t invest the PDM funds in it,” Kabbyanga said.

Kabbyanga urged PDM beneficiaries to embrace the four-acre model where a farmer can grow fruits on an acre, clonal coffee on another acre, one acre for food crops, and one acre for pasture, poultry, piggery, and fish farming.

The disbursement of PDM funds was recently launched in the district where Kabbyanga asked the chief administrative officer to take action against people who have invested money in cotton growing.

“I appeal to all political, religious and cultural leaders among others to join hands with government and sensitise the communities to embrace PDM. This program is meant to transform 39 percent active poor Ugandans into the money economy,” Kabbyanga said.

At least 250 of the beneficiaries had already received Shs 1million each on their individual accounts before the launch of the disbursement of the funds and more were expected to receive their share of the revolving fund.

The Kasese district chief administrative officer, Erias Byamungu said 250 beneficiaries from 197 SACCOs in the district have so far received Shs 1mln each on their individual accounts and more are still receiving as applied for.

Byamungu encouraged beneficiaries to utilize the money for only production purposes and invest it effectively.

The Kasese district LCV chairperson, Erifazi Muhindi agreed that cotton farming has failed to help smallholder farmers to get out of poverty due to the high cost of production against the low market prices.

He was optimistic that once people’s incomes improve, it will eventually lead to peace and security and eradicate unemployment.

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