Kikuube farmers urged to form groups to overcome challenges

KIKUUBE, July 24, 2024 – Farmers in Kikuube district have been urged to form groups if they are to find solutions to the challenges they face as farmers.

In an interview with this reporter days ago, Barnabus Ntume, Kikuube district Senior Production Officer noted that farmers need to get organised so that they speak with one voice but also enjoy other benefits that come with working in groups.

Ntume said individual farmers face many challenges that range from lack of access to finance, market, and quality inputs, as well as being cheated by middlemen.

“If you are organised in groups as farmers, you will be able to determine the prices of your produce, you will also be able to lobby for financial support from the private sector or government to buy inputs and fertilisers compared to farmers operating individually,” he said.

The official also challenged farmers always to prepare their gardens early, and plant on time to avoid some of the losses.

He noted that this ending season, many farmers in the district have made losses as result of prolonged drought. He said farmers who planted early were able to get fairly good yields while those who planted late suffered losses.

Some of the farmers in the district told this reporter of the losses suffered due to prolonged drought, and some other factors.

For example, Gloria Agia said prolonged drought is responsible for the farm losses.  I do not have land, I hired two acres of land at a cost of Shs 300,000 but the maize did not do well due to drought, yet I used Shs 1.5 million to prepare the garden and buy seeds and other inputs. I don’t think I will return to commercial farming,” she said.

On his part, Member of Parliament for Buhaguzi County in Kikuube district, Francis Kazini underscored the need to sensitise the farmers on the importance of environmental protection.

Kazini also expressed concern over the increasing environmental degradation in the area, warning that the habit of cutting of forests and destroying water catchment areas is rampant, and has a negative impacts on the local farmers who now face challenges such as prolonged drought.

“People have reached an extent of cutting fruit trees to burn charcoal, which is affecting the environment. Since 99 percent of the farmers in this region depend on rain– fed agriculture, we are likely to face a disaster if nothing is done because these trees and wetlands play a vital role as far as the formation of rain is concerned,” said Kazini.

https://thecooperator.news/kikuube-farmers-ask-govt-to-subsidise-prices-of-agricultural-inputs/

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