NAPAK, November 25, 2024: James Okumu Bedijo, the Chief Administrative Officer [CAO] of Napak district, has urged the people of Northern Uganda to view the Parish Development Model [ PDM ] as a valuable opportunity for future investment.
Okumu made this statement days ago during the handover ceremony of the Office of the Resident District Commissioner [RDC], where Milton Odongo from Padre district officially took over from Amos Asiimwe of Napak district.
Drawing a parallel to the education people receive during their youth, which is funded by their parents and enables them to secure employment, Okumu likened this to the PDM initiated by government to uplift the active poor from poverty . He emphasised that the programme should be viewed as a long-term investment for community development.
“The PDM is an opportunity, just like the education we received, which was not seen as solely a government initiative but something that benefited us, allowing us to acquire employable skills,” Okumu said.
He added: “People of Northern Uganda should view the PDM as seed capital. With the right knowledge and mindset, this program can enable the region to contribute significantly to the socio-economic development of Uganda by making strategic investments that offer a comparative advantage for the region.”
Okumu highlighted the successes the PDM has already achieved in various districts across the country, including Napak. He pointed out that the increased circulation of money in local communities has allowed more children to attend school, as parents are now able to pay school fees.
He also noted that the PDM has supported various enterprises, such as livestock farming, piggery, poultry, and cultivation of crops like sorghum, and cassava. Here farmers get Shs 1 million each to invest in their enterprises.
“There has been a notable increase in livestock numbers, as farmers can now afford animal drugs. Additionally, we are seeing more people involved in farming crops such as sorghum, which are now being produced in large quantities, and we are now supplying to companies like Nile Breweries,” Okumu said.
However, Okumu also acknowledged the challenges faced by farmers, particularly issues related to post-harvest handling due to unpredictable weather patterns and crop failures caused by erratic rainfall. He emphasised the need for ongoing sensitization to ensure that beneficiaries use the funds wisely.
“While some areas are affected by drought, others face crop losses due to erratic rains, which impacts post-harvest handling. Additionally, there are challenges with the misuse of funds, but we are educating the people on how to properly invest in income-generating activities so the funds can grow and be repaid in the future,” he added.
Milton Odongo, the newly appointed RDC for Napak, praised the district’s technical team for their efforts in successfully disbursing the PDM funds. He described the PDM as a cornerstone of the ruling government’s poverty eradication strategy, urging community leaders to make the most of the programme’s potential.
“I want to thank the technical team for implementing the National Resistance Movement [NRM] Government Manifesto. Our success depends entirely on your efforts, so we must work together. The PDM is at the heart of this government, and any attempt to misuse these funds is a direct attack on the government’s core values,” Odongo warned.
He further emphasised the importance of using the funds for their intended purpose, saying this is the only way poverty in local communities will be eliminated.
He added: “We cannot afford to allow our people to remain poor and vulnerable, as that could lead to instability, like the French Revolution of 1789, which was partly caused by poverty and food scarcity.”
Odongo also urged parish chiefs to implement the PDM responsibly by adhering to its guidelines. He confirmed that the full disbursement of the PDM funds to local communities in the district has already taken place.
https://thecooperator.news/napak-farmers-reap-big-from-cassava-growing/
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