MASINDI-Farmers under different farmer groups in Masindi district have been trained on good agronomic practices, post-harvest handling, value addition, and institutional development.
The two-day training which was held at the education hall in Masindi town days ago was attended by extension workers, parish chiefs, community development officers, and agriculture officers among others.
According to Fred Ssajakambwe, the western region coordinator for Agriculture Value Chain Development Project, the activities are being run under the Agriculture Ministry and funded by the African Development Bank.
He said the project is being implemented by the Consortium of International Institute for Rural construction [IIRR] and Acholi Private sector Development Company Limited [APSDEC].
He said the two-year project targets maize and rice enterprises. “It intends to improve livelihoods through increased incomes and commercialisation of agriculture.”
He added: “We are also training farmers on farming as a business, marketing, crosscutting issues like linkages, financial constraints, and management of risks and uncertainties, among others.”
He further said that in western Uganda the project is being implemented in seven districts including Masindi, Kasese, Kyegegwa, Buhweju, Mitooma, Kiryandongo, and Kamwenge.
“We first did a needs assessment and discovered that there are a lot of gaps that need to be addressed if farmers are to benefit from agriculture. We are also training farmer groups on how to develop into high-level farmer organisations like cooperatives,” he noted.
Ssajakambwe further said that the implementation started about a year ago and 4,585 farmer groups have been profiled and fully trained in institutional development.
“They have also received demo gardens, in- puts like fertilizers, pesticides, and seeds among others. We have also established financial linkages to help farmers access low interest loans to invest in agriculture,” he explained.
He noted that a number of farmers have adopted good post-harvesting handling practices after undergoing training.
In Masindi, the project is being implemented in the sub-counties of Pakanyi, Kiruli, Bwijanga, Kijunjubwa, Labongo, and Miirya.
James Muragira Mugunisa, the team leader Agriculture Value Chain Programme said they have village agents who coordinate with other farmers.
He said farmers are trained on inputs, soil management, water conservation, pests, and disease control among others.
“We have also helped the farmers to form village savings and loans associations [VSLAs] and equipped them with skills. “This will help farmers and other stakeholders to grow and effectively run these VSLAs,” said Muragira.
Farmers speak out
Alice Katusabe, an agent from Kyamudikya Village in Pakanyi Sub-county explained to this reporter that she is now able to earn more money from farming than before, after undergoing training.
“For us who have adopted the best agronomic practices, we have been able to benefit. In the past, I would not get Shs 1 million from an acre of maize but last season I got Shs 4mln,” she said.
She, however, explained that the problem they are facing is the lack of storage facilities, calling upon government to help.
Edison Wabyona, also a village agent from Alimugonza Village in Pakanyi Sub-county commnded the innovators of the programme, explaining that the quality and the quantity of the farm yields have increased.
However, he expressed his disappointment over the lack of stable prices for their products like maize. “Price fluctuations are the biggest challenge that is affecting us. We also need to have fixed prices,” said Wabyona.
https://thecooperator.news/govt-donates-13-tractors-to-farmers-in-bunyoro/
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