By Patrick Okino
State House has established a four-acre agricultural model at the Lango Presidential Industrial Hub, hosted by Lira University in Lira city.
This initiative aims to equip youth with farming skills to transform their communities and boost incomes.
“The goal is to help farmers improve household income. With a small piece of land, you can still generate significant revenue,” said George Abdul, the chairperson of the hub, during the welcoming ceremony for over 200 youth who will be undergoing a six-month training programme.
Participants will engage in seven skill areas; building and construction, carpentry, hairdressing, baking, tailoring, welding and leather processing.
“The President dreams of transforming the economy through farming and skills development,” adds Abdul, the Amuru resident district commissioner.
Lango Hub is one of 19 presidential industrial hubs established nationwide, aiming to train over 12,000 youth annually, under the initiative that encourages job creation rather than job-seeking. Launched in 2022, other hubs include are in Gulu, Zombo, Kween, Mbarara, Mbale and Kampala. During a recent graduation of over 400 trainees, Jane Barekye, the State House Comptroller, emphasised the model’s economic benefits.
“This model is designed for to farm profitability” she said.
Low-income earners
Dr Chris Ocen, a State House commissioner, highlighted the aim of the hubs, noting that they help low-income earners, especially peasants, utilise their land in commercially viable ways.
“Even small plots can be productive,” he explained.
At the Lango Hub, they have set up a dairy unit, constructed a fish pond and dedicated an acre to coffee and matooke.
The dairy unit will eventually house five Friesian cows and stock 10,000 fingerlings for fish farming.
“In northern Uganda, most people have at least four acres. The question is how to use that land effectively,” Ocen noted.
Earning
“From just one acre, we expect to earn sh200,000 per day, totaling sh6m a month,” Dr Chris Ocen, a State House commissioner said.
He emphasised the daily income potential from dairy farming and the quicker returns from new coffee varieties, which can yield between sh10m and sh18m per acre.
The fish pond, measuring 20×50 metres, will provide lucrative returns.
“In eight months, each fish could weigh between 500g and 800g, selling for sh10,000. With 10,000 fish, the income could exceed sh100m,” Ocen added.
The fourth acre can be dedicated to matooke or bananas, which are in high demand locally and for export.
LEAD PHOTO CAPTION: A fish pond established at the Lango hub.
