By Peter Abaanabasazi
Veteran farmer Shadrach Munyema Mwijakubi, 82, is one of the happiest farmers in the Bunyoro region after being among the beneficiaries of 13 tractors which President Yoweri Museveni has donated to the farmers in the region to promote commercial and modern farming.
Mwijakubi, a National Resistance Movement party diehard from Kigomba village Kijingo sub-county in Hoima district, told new vision on Saturday at his home that on Friday he travelled with his family members to Kakumiro district headquarters in Kakumiro town council to receive the tractor from Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja.
Nabbanja handed over the 13 tractors to farmer groups and individuals in Bunyoro.
The tractors are part of the assorted farm input equipment and accessories that were recently procured by the agriculture ministry on the directives of President Museveni to promote commercial farming in the country.
Mwijakubi said he was excited to get the tractor because his existing one, which is too old and currently grounded, was given to him in the 1980s.
“We have already cleared the farmland and we are going to start utilising the tractor right away. I thank the President for giving me this tractor. It is not only going to help me, but also the communities in this area will be using it,” he added.
Nabbanja urged the beneficiaries to utilise the equipment communally at minimal rates for increased production and productivity.
She challenged the people of Bunyoro to stop subsistence farming and embrace commercial agriculture adding that through commercial farming, the country will be able to have enough food and also help farmers to realise social economic transformation.
According to agriculture ministry commissioner Eng. Boniface Okanya, the tractors have 1,000hrs of free service, with three-year warranty and an Installed satellite-led monitoring system for efficiency purposes.
He said the equipment and other assorted farm inputs given out can be used in grinding, threshing, milling and irrigation among other functions.
Okanya warned the farmers that Government will withdraw tractors from farmers and groups if they discover that the machines are not being used for the intended purpose
“Go and use these tractors to improve your household income,” he said.
According to the official, Bunyoro region is supposed to get 26 tractors and for the first batch, the Government distributed 13 tractors.
