By Charles Kakamwa
In an attempt to improve agricultural production, farmers in the Busoga sub-region districts of Mayuge, Bugiri, Namayingo and Iganga have received 3,888 tonnes of fertilisers ahead of the next planting season expected to start in August.
The nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium fertilisers in 50kg bags are supplied by Grain Pulse, a company contracted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries.
Initiative objective
The initiative is meant to boost food crop yields, especially maize, beans and soybean in areas where the National Oil Palm Project (NOPP) is being implemented in the sub-region.
Agriculture state minister Fred Bwino Kyakulaga — who flagged off the distribution exercise at Bugadde town council, Mayuge district last Saturday — said the intervention under the Crisis Response Initiative came due to concerns about poor crop yields and hunger in the area.
He explained that following the complaints, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, which funds NOPP activities, released $5m (about sh18.68b) to boost food production with fertilisers.
Kyakulaga said at least 10,000 households, with over 50,000 people, will benefit from the donation expected to yield up to 5.5 million kilogrammes of maize and 15 million kilogrammes of beans and soybeans.
Distribution guidelines
Kyakulaga, however, cautioned agricultural extension workers and local leaders to strictly follow the guidelines, including ensuring that at least 30% of the fertilisers go to women, 20% to the youth and the remaining 50% to the rest of the community members.
“Each beneficiary must first prove ownership of land. They should be guided by technical people on proper fertiliser application for good results and be monitored from time to time, even after the harvest, so that we get to know whether there is an impact,” Kyakulaga said.
Charles Lubandi, the Mayuge district NOPP focal person, explained that though the assistance was secured under the NOPP, all farmers can benefit from it irrespective of their enterprises.
“We understand that some residents have small pieces of land and cannot engage in oil palm farming but they are allowed to benefit from this particular component since they are part of the community,” he said.
Lubandi, who stressed the inclusion of marginalised groups of people, also noted that the project will boost activities under other government programmes like the Parish Development Model.
Beneficiary’s say
Gonza Mulembe, a farmer in Bugadde town council, commended the Government and development partners for their timely support, noting that due to soil exhaustion, their gardens produce miserable yields.
“From the time I was a child, we have been growing food on the same piece of land. It lost fertility and needed nourishment through fertiliser application,” she said.
Accountability
The Mayuge district principal assistant secretary, Paul Muzige, warned of stern action against extension workers who fail to execute their duties, which wastes government resources.
He also regretted the poor attitudes of some people to government development initiatives.
