KAKUMKIRO-Farmers in Bunyoro Sub-region have a reason to smile after they received 13 tractors from the government to engage in commercial agriculture.
The 13 tractors are part of the mechanisation machinery, which President Yoweri Museveni launched in December last year to be distributed across the country to improve agricultural production and productivity.
Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja handed over the 13 tractors to individual farmers and groups during the function held at Kakumiro district headquarters in Kakumiro Town Council.
While handing over the tractors, Nabbanja urged the beneficiaries to utilise the equipment communally to agricultural boost production and productivity.
The Prime Minister said that the Ministry of Agriculture has signed a memorandum of understanding with farmers to ensure proper use of the equipment.
She challenged the people in Bunyoro Sub-region to do away with subsistence farming, saying they should instead embrace commercial agriculture which is key in the socio-economic transformation of households.
She noted that there is a need for Ugandans to embrace agriculture as a business instead of joining the sector as a last resort.
“The distribution of these tractors is fulfillment of the president’s pledge to farmers. We are hopeful that you are going to use them [tractors] to promote modern farming in your area,” she said.
Engineer Boniface Okanya, a commissioner in the ministry of Agriculture, who represented the permanent secretary warned the farmers that government would withdraw tractors if it is established that they are not being used for the intended purpose.
“Go and use these tractors to improve your household income. We will not hesitate to withdraw the tractors if they are not used for the intended purpose,” he said.
Okanya said that the government will help the farmers to service the tractors for 1,000 working hours but cautioned the beneficiaries against using local mechanics to repair the equipment.
Rev. Fr. Edward Manyireki while speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries commended the government for providing the machinery for cultivation, pledging that they will use the machinery as advised.
He noted that many farmers in Bunyoro Sub-region depend on rain and hand hoe to cultivate which, he said cannot be depended on for large-scale agricultural production.
He appealed to government to provide more tractors and irrigation facilities to the farmers so that they are able to produce enough food for the country.
He noted that there is a need to have tractors at every parish to ensure that farmers get mechanisation service at a cheap price or even at free of cost.
https://thecooperator.news/agricultural-investment-teso-youth-ask-for-tractors-at-gathering/
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