PDM: Govt urged to inject more funds in mindset change campaigns

OYAM-More money should be put into mindset change and ideological orientation campaigns if the Parish Development Model [PDM] is to bear fruit, according to John Max Agong, the Oyam district senior planner.

He said Shs 21 billion earmarked for mindset change is not enough to cover all districts in the country with an estimated population of 49 million.

He also explained that Shs 1mln which will be given to selected families as loans payable with an interest of 6 percent is too little, adding that the money should be revised if the programme is to create a greater impact in the poor communities.

“PDM has seven pillars. Among them is financial inclusion but you cannot give Shs 1mln to a farmer who has selected livestock rearing and you expect him to be effective,” he said.

He said the shs 1mln can at best buy only two cows yet more money is needed for feeds, fencing the farm, and veterinary drugs.

“The money should be given to selected families who have started some projects for income generation but not to those who have nothing to show,” he said.

He said people opting to venture into poultry, piggery, livestock, and beekeeping among others should visit model farms before starting their own projects.

Charles Ogwang, a resident of Otuke district suggested government should intensify sensitisation campaigns on the PDM, saying many people have not understood the programme.

Under the PDM, the government hopes to move 3.5 million households still in subsistence farming into the money economy by spending over Shs 1 trillion every financial year on the programme planned to cover five years, beginning with the financial year 2022/2023.

https://thecooperator.news/politicians-accused-of-decampaigning-pdm/

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