By Abdulkarim Ssengendo
A total of 53 people have been equipped with skills in turning raw agricultural products into market-ready goods.
The three weeks of intensive training was conducted in Mbarara city by Rwenjeru Agro-Tourism Demonstration and Training Farm in partnership with RIPPLE Effect.
Speaking at the pass-out ceremony recently, Martin Kananura, the director of Rwenjeru Agro-Tourism Demonstration and Training Farm, said the training focused on adding value in milk and ghee, pasture management and establishing a rabbit, poultry, goat, sheep and apiary farming.
The trainees who faced assessors from the Directorate of Industrial Training (DIT) were also trained in soap-making and baking.
Kananura said some of the trainees were school dropouts and others had never gone to school.
He said through his farm, he has trained thousands of Ugandans equipping them with skills on how to better themselves.
Kananura, a 2023 New Vision best farmer encouraged farmers to engage in value addition.
Kato Didas, the Principal Rwenjeru Agro-Tourism Demonstration and Training Farm hailed Kananura and his family for the initiative.
“We have equipped many in dairy farming, pasture establishment and management, rabbit, goat, sheep and apiary farming. Currently, we also skill people in liquid and bar soap making, yoghurt and ghee production,” Kato added.
Tworekirwe Miriam, an assessor from DIT and Deputy Principal of Rwentanga Farm School asked for the establishment of many multi-skilling centres in the country and called on Ugandans to embrace them.
Asiimwe Patrick and Saviour Nabaasa, some of the trainees called on the government through the Ministry of Agriculture to invest in skilling Ugandans, especially those in agriculture.
Nabasa also asked the government to support those who have been trained to make proper use of the skills acquired.
