Minister Kasaija delivers on PDM money in new budget
KAMPALA– The Finance Minister Matia Kasaija yesterday underlined government seriousness in the implementation of the Parish Development Model [PDM], providing Shs 1.059 trillion in the new budget to the programme he said will deliver 3.5 million households out of subsistence economy to the money economy.
“In order to integrate the 3.5 million households currently working in the subsistence economy into the money economy, and to proactively create wealth and jobs, the Parish Development Model is going to be fully implemented in the coming financial year,” he said yesterday in Kampala as he was reading the country’s Shs 48.1 trn budget for the financial year 2022/23.
“I have provided a total of Shs. 1.059 trillion for full implementation of the Model. Each of the 10,594 parishes in the country will receive Shs. 100 million as a revolving fund, earmarked for purchase of agricultural inputs by households still in subsistence,” Kasaija said.
Minister Kasaija told Parliament that in the financial year ending June 2022, Shs 234bln was provided for the implementation of the PDM, with more efforts focused on preparatory activities to prepare for full implementation of the model.
The Minister highlighted activities like; recruitment of Parish Chiefs, data collection, verification of beneficiaries, the establishment of SACCOs, setting up of the PDM Management Unit in the Ministry of Local Government, and sensitisation and mobilisation, among others.
He said the PDM will be complemented by other government programmes such as the Emyooga Fund; the Microfinance Support Centre credit to other SACCOs and Village Savings Groups; the Small Business Recovery Fund; and other wealth creation initiatives.
Meanwhile, Minister Kasaija said agriculture production in the country, to which he allocated Shs 564.39bln out of the total budget, will be enhanced using the first pillar of the PDM – that addresses production, agro-processing, and marketing, through enhanced access and entry to national, regional and global markets. “This value chain approach allows development of sustainable linkages.”
According to minister Kasaija, the key interventions will include; development of key commodities value chains that have a high impact on transforming the 39 percent of households in subsistence into the money economy. These include coffee, beef and dairy cattle, poultry, fish, piggery, fruits, and food crops for intensive farming.
“The rest of the enterprises including cassava, bananas, rice, Irish potatoes, millet, cotton, tea, cashew-nuts, among others, will also be supported but for relatively big farmers,” he said, adding that there will also be the expansion of irrigation schemes and providing community and individual on-farm water for production to minimise reliance on rain-fed agriculture, and ensuring sustained agricultural production.
Also there will be the enhancement of research, breeding and appropriate technology development through the National Animal Genetic Resources Centre and Data Bank (NAGRC & DB) and the National Agriculture Research Organisation [NARO], coupled with the investment in, and effective regulation of production, multiplication and certification of quality agricultural inputs including seeds, seedlings, stocking materials, and fertilizers.
Kasaija he said will be accompanied by enhancement of enterprise selection through enhanced farmer education and general agricultural extension, as well as pest and disease control at parish level, promotion of appropriate land use, mechanisation, cooperatives, and development of partnerships with large-scale farmers to produce for export and industrial value addition, and supporting fishing communities by developing hatcheries, fish ponds, and equipping them with engines, nets among others.
https://thecooperator.news/pdm-gen-salim-saleh-differs-on-formation-of-new-saccos/
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