LIRA-Although there is limited land in urban areas for large-scale farming, farmers in Lira City have been advised to utilise the Parish Development Model Programme [PDM] to engage in fish and poultry farming as the two activities require small pieces of land to take place.
Addressing a group of farmers at Ngetta Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute [NZARDI] recently in Lira City East Division, Emmanuel Angole, the division`s town clerk, said the two enterprises [fishing and poultry farming] can help Lira City residents to fight abject poverty.
The farmers were on field day learning about the integrated management of fall armyworm [FAW]which attacks maize, rice, sorghum, and other cereals. It was organized by National Agricultural Research Organization [NARO].
The field day was also meant to showcase and appreciate the benefits of the newly introduced biopesticide in the control and management of FAW.
Angole said as government rolls out PDM in 10,594 parishes in the country, it is a good opportunity for town dwellers to access the money for income-generating activities like fish and poultry farming.
Each parish through PDM SACCOs is expected to get Shs 100 million annually for five years to engage in income-generating activities. Government has earmarked about Shs 1 trillion for the programme in the current financial year 2022/23.
“Farming is a foundation of economic transformation and food security, therefore nobody should discourage you saying it’s for the uneducated or it’s for the rural population only,” he added.
Fish and poultry farming are among 18 commodities or enterprises identified by government as it rolled out PDM expected to drive 3.5 million households still in subsistence farming into the money economy.
Other commodities considered under the PDM include soybean, maize, rice, cassava, coffee, piggery, beekeeping, tea, beans, and cattle rearing among others.
Angole said backyard farming in urban areas if planned properly and the right enterprise is selected, a farmer can reap Shs 20 million annually.
Charles Opio Olol, the Lira City East Division, secretary for finance and administration also called upon farmers to adopt the new farming technologies if they are to fight abject poverty in the households.
He said commercial farming is the foundation of economic transformation, urging farmers to shift from subsistence farming which keeps them in poverty and practice the former.
https://thecooperator.news/minister-adoa-urges-farmers-to-embrace-fish-farming/
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