ZOMBO, April 2, 2024 – Farmers in Jupumocho parish, Paidha Sub-county in Zombo district under their umbrella body Med-Tego Ifur Group, have received an automatic egg incubator to boost their poultry keeping business and improve household incomes.
According to the community members, they expect the new automatic egg incubator to help fight poverty in the beneficiary households.
The incubator which cost Shs 65 million was delivered to the group members by Agency for Community Empowerment [AFCE] with support from Oxfam Uganda. The two not-for-profit organisations are involved in the fight against poverty in Uganda by supporting income-generating activities in the rural households of Uganda,
Michael Mave, Chairman of Med Tego Ifur Farming Group told this reporter that there is ready market in the DR Congo for chicks hatched, adding that they will look for market in other parts of Uganda and the rest of the neighbouring countries.
On his part, one of the members of the Group, Inyasio Orochi said they are utilising the services of the district’s technical officers in a bid to produce quality chicks for rearing and sale, adding that some chicks would be given to group members as start-up capital.
He added: “We are going to give each member chicks after they have hatched from the incubator and all members must consider the multiplier effect by keeping an eye on the project with the aim of being self-reliant.”
He said some of the group members expect to use funds provided under the government’s Parish Development Model [PDM] to boost their poultry projects. Launched in February 2022, the PDM gives Shs 1 million to beneficiaries to support production in the agricultural enterprises such as poultry keeping, dairy farming, and piggery among others.
According to the District Production Officer Zombo, Walter Kumakech, the automatic incubator will boost the income generation but also improve the welfare of members.
He added that the machine will help boost prosperity and wealth creation for farmers living in the various communities of Zombo district.
On his part, Toni Opio, Project Officer at AFCE said they are targeting over 1,500 households in Zombo district to be supplied with the chicks within one month, adding that farmers from the district will no longer have to travel to Kampala to buy day-old chicks since they will be hatched locally.
He added: “We are empowering the communities and change their mindsets by creating life changing enterprises which are profit oriented in nature by boosting their socio-economic status of the local community members.”
For her part, Deputy Resident District Commissioner Zombo, Grace Atim said government has created an enabling environment for non-governmental organisations in Uganda to give a helping hand in the communities they serve.
“Government has given room to the development partners to play their roles in bringing development nearer to the communities,” she said.
https://thecooperator.news/mps-irked-by-poor-state-of-zombo-roads/
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