HOIMA, March 2, 2024 – The government through the Ministry of Animal Industry and Fisheries [MAAIF] has donated a tractor to farmers in Hoima district to promote commercial farming in Bunyoro Sub-region.
The farmers under their group Kayera Farmers’ Association, formed over six years ago in Kabaale Sub-county in Hoima district, received the tractor on Wednesday.
Jacob Okum, Secretary of the association said President Museveni’s young brother, Shadrach Nzeire Kaguta lobbied for the tractor.
He commended Nzeire for responding to their request, adding they had waited for the tractor for a long time.
He noted that using hoes to cultivate is not sustainable for commercial farming, adding that the tractor will now make it ease for them.
“These causal workers take a lot of time, they take two weeks to dig an acre. This is delays armers to plant early in the season,” he said.
For his part, Pastor Joseph India, Chairman of the farmers’ association said the tractor was delivered to them at the right time when they are preparing their gardens for the new planting season.
India, a pastor at Kabaale Christian Assembly said their association with over 150 members has over 1,000 acres of land to be planted beans, maize, sim sim, groundnuts among others crops are grown.
He noted that the tractor will also be hired to the surrounding communities, which he said will boost the association’s income.
“The local communities around us will also benefit by hiring the tractor to increase their crop acreage base because we want empowerment for all, like the government wants wealth creation for all,” he said.
On his part, Hassan Kugonza, Chairman LC3 for Kabaale Sub-county commended the farmers for getting organised through their association, saying this enabled them to get the tractor easily from MAAIF.
Kugonza said the few available tractors in the district are too expensive for the poor farmers to hire them.
He also challenged the group to properly manage the tractor so that it serves its intended purpose, adding that such tractors sometimes get mismanaged and end up being grounded instead of benefiting farmers.
https://thecooperator.news/gen-taban-commissions-eleven-tractors-in-pakwach-district/
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