In a bid to boost agricultural production, government through Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) has donated three tractors to three cooperative societies in Kasese district. The donation comes at a time when the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) is prioritizing agricultural mechanization.
The beneficiary cooperatives are; Abasaija Kweyamba Cooperative Society, Bigando Farmers’ Cooperative Society and Kaveera Barracks Women Cooperative Society.
Handing over the tractors, Hanny Turyahebwa, the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Kasese district lauded government for prioritizing agricultural mechanization. Turyahebwa has since been transferred to Ntungamo district in the same capacity.
Gideon Ntabose Sanyu, the Vice Chairman Kasese district said that once properly utilized, the tractors will help farmers in the beneficiary cooperatives to boost their production and consequently household incomes.
“We carried out a needs assessment in all cooperative societies during the time Gen. Salim Saleh [Chief Coordinator, Operation Wealth Creation] was in the district. We found out that ploughing was still a major problem to our farmers, and these three cooperatives had the capacity to increase their production if supported with tractors,” Ntabose said.
Julius Baluku, the district Production Coordinator appealed to the beneficiary cooperative to put the tractors to good use. Operation Wealth Creation signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the beneficiary cooperatives on maintenance and proper use of the tractors.
Semu Mulimba, Advocacy officer Bigando Cooperative Society, lauded government for the donation. “We are grateful to government for the tractors, this will help ease our work,” Mulimba said.
The Kasese Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Lt Joe Walusimbi implored leaders of the three cooperatives to ensure that all farmers have equal access to the tractors. “Don’t use these tractors on things that are outside the Momorandum of Understanding, but rather stick to the intended purpose for increased production,” Walusimbi cautioned.
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