President Yoweri Museveni’s visit to Masindi district has excited farmers.
On Tuesday, Museveni began his tour in Bunyoro region to inspect the performance of the Parish Development Model (PDM), with a visit to selected farmers in Buliisa and Kikuube districts and Hoima city.
Yesterday, the President commissioned Hoima Stadium and presided over the breaking of the ground for the construction of Bunyoro Public University.
“As farmers and leaders, we are excited to host the President in the district,” said Geoffrey Bigabwa, the Masindi district secretary for production, trade and industry. “The President has created a conducive environment for investors, farmers and traders. This explains we have a vibrant agricultural sector and factories, such as Kinyara sugar factory,” he said.
Bigabwa said Museveni’s assessment of PDM performance will motivate more farmers to enhance their agricultural productivity and boost economic development in the district.
Kinyara sugar Limited has over 7,000 registered sugarcane outgrowers and employs over 20,000 people.
The company offers extension services and several Corporate Social Responsibility programmes that have improved infrastructure, education, health and other socio-economic programmes.
Amos Musindi, one of Kinyara Sugar’s contracted out-grower farmers, said he has exploited the Government’s conducive climate to expand his sugarcane fields.
Musindi, a resident of Kisiita cell in Masindi municipality, who ventured into sugarcane growing in 1999 with an initial garden of 1.3 hectares, currently has over 150 hectares.
“Every year, I earn an average of sh500m from my sugarcane sales to Kinyara. I have used this income to expand my plantations, build estates, educate my children and relatives in the best schools and created more jobs for the people,” he said.
Isaac Mbabazi, a farmer in Pakanyi sub-county, said he used the knowledge he obtained from extension workers to integrate food security into sugarcane growing.
“Out of the 20 acres of my agricultural fields, I ring-fenced six acres, where I grow different foods for consumption and sale,” Mbabazi said.
The Masindi municipality mayor, Ronald Kyomuhendo, said the company rehabilitates and maintains over 2,000km of roads in Masindi district, which the district and municipal authorities cannot effectively maintain due to resource constraints.
Kinyara Sugar Limited’s public relations officer Francis Mugerwa, said the company is pleased with the support and cordial relations it has with farmers and stakeholders.
LEAD PHOTO CAPTION: President Museveni during his visits at Irumba David’s farm in Bunyoro sub-region. PPU photo
