BY ANDREW MUSINGUZI
Commercial farmers dealing in crop and animal husbandry in Ruteete sub-county in Kagadi district have celebrated achievement and asked to tap regional market to boost their income.
Denis Namara, a member of the East African legislative Assembly (EALA) asked Kagadi farmers and Sacco beneficiaries to embrace commercial farming practices with good post-harvesting handling services in order to benefit from East African regional markets.
Speaking as a chief guest at the 15th anniversary celebrations of Ruteete Bataka Tukwatanize Association (SACCO) in Kagadi district on Wednesday, Namara says there is ready regional market for both Animal and crop husbandry from 8 East African community countries for eggs from poultry, Milk from cows and goats, coffee, Bananas, Maize, Hass Avocadoes, passion fruits with good post harvesting handing activities pledging to set up a factory for fruits.
”We have ready market from eight East African community countries of Rwanda, Burundi, DR-Congo, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, Kenya and our own Uganda where valuable products of milk, poultry, piggery, coffee, Hass avocado passion fruits can be sold for income and foreign exchange”, said Namara.
Namara who donated sh5m to members lauded Over 200 Ruteete Sacco members for their successes in materials, financial discipline, Animal and crop husbandry.
Namara said has plans to establish hass avocado oil factory in Ruteete to enable farmers tap profits through processing of the products
He clarified that Uganda’s Agricultural products such maize were recently banned in Kenya and south Sudan due to Afro-Toxins materials which pose danger and asked farmers to have good storage facilities as well as desisting from misuse of Parish development funds disbursed by govt.
Ezra Musinguzi, the Chairperson Ruteete Bataka Tukwatanize Association (RUBATUA) named numerous Sacco’s achievements in enrollment, finance, crop, animal husbandry and materials purchased by Members and asked for more help from micro-finance support center.
”Our membership has risen to over 200 members, We have purchased a plot, 0ver 600 plastic chairs, 20 tarplins. We have over sh60m on our account which we keep lending out to members but we ask government to support us financially”, said Musinguzi.
The beneficiaries from the sacco include men and women of Ruteete Bataka Tukwanize association lauded president Museveni for financial liberation and continuous advice to form groups to enhance house hold income and fight poverty.
Josias Tumukwasibwe: I have benefited a lot from this Sacco because i borrowed about sh5m and purchased a plot of land, build a commercial house. I also have projects of piggery, poultry, cattle from where i get over sh5m per month.
Ezra Musinguzi: As the chairperson of this association, just in two years of assuming office we have managed to save sh60m, purchased over 600 plastic chairs and 20 tarplins from where we get income. Membership has also increased to over 200, projects of poultry, piggery and Bananas among others.
Evelyne Tumusiime: I have benefited alot from this sacco because i have educated my four children in secondary and tertiary institutions, have projects on poultry, piggery and cattle where i earn not less than sh5m.
Beatrice Twikirize: Government should support us due to our hard work. I earn at least sh5m from my projects of piggery cattle, Poultry, passion fruits and saloon.
