KAKUMIRO, November 19, 2024 – The government, through the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries [MAAIF], has delivered 18 tractors to various districts in the Bunyoro Sub-region as part of efforts to boost agricultural production.
The tractors were handed over to the beneficiaries on Saturday by Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, who represented President Museveni at the handover ceremony at the Kakumiro district headquarters.
This distribution comes just a day after President Museveni launched the “Four-Acre Model Campaign,” which encourages farmers to diversify their land use. The model proposes that farmers dedicate one acre to coffee cultivation, another to fruit trees, a third for food crops for household consumption, and the fourth for pasture for livestock.
In her address, Prime Minister Nabbanja explained that, since Bunyoro has nine districts, each district was allocated two tractors to be used communally. These tractors will be managed by selected model farmers or organised groups such as cooperatives or churches.
Under the guidelines, farmers who wish to use the tractors will be required to pay a fee of Shs 55,000 to the custodians before accessing the machinery. Additionally, farmers will be responsible for fueling the tractors themselves.
Nabbanja emphasised that the tractor distribution is part of the government’s broader effort to modernize agriculture, thereby increasing production and productivity in the region.
“Mechanisation of agriculture reduces the burden of manual labour and allows farmers to cultivate more land with greater efficiency and productivity,” Nabbanja said. “This initiative is part of a larger strategy to support rural areas and equip farmers with the tools they need to succeed.”
The arrival of the tractors has generated excitement among local leaders and farmers, who believe the machinery will significantly enhance modern farming practices in the region.
Matia Kasaija, the Minister of Finance, commended Museveni for the initiative, stating that increased agricultural production and productivity cannot be achieved without mechanization.
“This initiative is a game-changer for our farmers. Mechanization will help improve both the quantity and quality of crops grown in Uganda,” Kasaija noted.
Peter Banura, the Kikuube district LCV Chairperson, pointed out that many farmers in the district have been practicing subsistence farming due to the lack of access to modern farming tools. “Most farmers in our district have been using hand hoes, which has limited their ability to cultivate large-scale farms and plant crops on time,” Banura explained.
Prominent farmer Steven Kabagambe, who engages in coffee farming, livestock rearing, and the cultivation of maize, bananas, and ginger on over 20 acres of land, also praised the government’s support.
He said the tractor donation was a significant relief, as he had previously relied on hand hoes to prepare his gardens. He also noted the high cost of hiring private tractors, which could range between Shs 120,000 and Shs 140,000 to till just one acre of land.
“This donation will make a huge difference for us as farmers. It will not only reduce our costs but also allow us to farm more land and improve our yields,” Kabagambe said.
The provision of these tractors is seen as a vital step towards increasing mechanisation in agriculture, which will, in turn, help farmers in Bunyoro Sub-region and across Uganda transition from subsistence to more market-oriented farming practices.
https://thecooperator.news/museveni-donates-14-tractors-to-masindi-groups/
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