By Arnold Nyapidi
The Government, through the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), has given farmers livestock and equipment as well as motorcycles to agricultural extension workers in the greater Masaka region, so that they can switch to commercial farming.
This activity was part of the three-day farmer mobilisation, education, value-addition and service delivery campaign, which various ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) have been executing in part of greater Masaka (Kalungu, Bukomansimbi and Sembabule).
Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, who represented President Yoweri Museveni, led the campaign that started on October 27, 2023, which included agricultural expos, medical camps and agricultural information-sharing sessions.
Nabbanja, who was joined by Mawogolo North Member of Parliament Shartis Musherure on Sunday, kicked off Day three of the campaign in Semababule district where they visited model farmers who are making significant strides in coffee cultivation, cattle and goat rearing.
They were escorted by technical officers from OPM, agriculture ministry and other MDAs as well as some of the local residents to various villages in this district.
The Prime Minister said she hopes many Ugandans will be inspired by the success stories of the model farmers in the districts of Kalungu, Bukomansimbi and Sembabule to engage in commercial agriculture.
While addressing the locals at Kitaasa Playground in Bukomansimbi on Saturday Nabbanja emphasized the importance of agriculture in Uganda.
She advised farmers not to lose their grip on their dedication and hard work and expressed the Government’s commitment to continue supporting farmers in their endeavours.
“This support includes mechanisation, access to technology and education to ensure sustainable growth,” Nabbanja said.
The Prime Minister commended the efforts of model farmers and highlighted the significance of events like this in fostering knowledge exchange and community growth.
Do coffee
Agriculture minister Frank Tumwebaze, who took part in the event posted on X, formerly Twitter, saying people with reasonably big chunks of land and still figuring out a highly rewarding enterprise to use it for, should do coffee.
“Honestly, If most people with idle land can use some portion of it to plant coffee, we can easily hit our 20m bags for export,” he said.
He reasoned that Fortunately, a big part of Uganda’s ecological zones tolerate coffee. Coffee can do well almost in the entire western part of Uganda, Do well in the West Nile region, in Eastern and central regions as well as in Acholi & Lango.
