Help VSLAs invest in lucrative agricultural ventures, minister urges district officials

NWOYA– The State Minister for Northern Uganda, Grace Kwiocwiny has urged Nwoya district officials to enroll the local Village Saving and Loan Associations [VSLAs] into lucrative agricultural ventures.

The minister made the call while meeting the district commercial and production officers whom she advised to help farmers by researching and identifying crops that are in high demand, saying most farmers lack market information.

“District production and commercial officers are charged with the responsibilities of guiding our people. With all these associations [VSLAs] which can engage in commercial farming as a group, why not help them and give them information?” Kwiocwiny asked.

Kwiocwiny said higher financial returns from agriculture would in the end impact positively on the VSLAs.

Officials said Nwoya district has over 3,000 registered VSLAs with 36 cooperative societies that can engage in commercial agriculture.

Godfrey Odoki Ocitti, the district commercial officer said oftentimes, they have always engaged farmers on which crops to grow so that they do not make losses at the end of the season.

However, he said his department receives meagre funds that can hardly facilitate them to visit all farmers in the district.

He said the department receives Shs 192 million for every financial year, with Shs 45mln for operations, and Shs 41mln for salaries, adding that infrastructural development took Shs 105mln in the last financial year.

Alfred Kilama, the Nwoya district agricultural officer says that the biggest challenge farmers in the district face are price fluctuations, especially during harvest times. This, he says is mainly due to the poor quality of the produce, but also manipulation by middlemen.

Kilama said that they are looking at connecting farmers to organisations or companies to engage in contract farming so that losses are minimised.

https://thecooperator.news/vsla-brings-joy-to-kwania-residents/

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