Ugandan farmers have been advised to go with an open mind so as to tap into the abundant opportunities that will be availed to them at the National Ploughing Championship in Ireland.
Kevin Colgan, the Ireland Ambassador to Uganda, on Monday told the 11 farmers during an orientation and send-off at the Embassy that they will meet an array of farmers during the championship to take place from September 20 to September 22.
“You are going to see and meet farmers and business persons from the small to the large operators. This will present a whole range of opportunities. Therefore, network and create partnership opportunities by trying to convince people to come and partner and or invest in Uganda,” Colgan said.
Organised by the Honorary Consul of Uganda to Ireland, Ms Sylvia Gavigan, with support from the Embassy of Ireland in Kampala, the visit seeks to promote business, trade and learning opportunities between Uganda and Ireland.
While in Ireland, the farmers will meet with officials from the department of foreign affairs and trade, the department of agriculture, spend two days touring the National Ploughing Championship and also spend time visiting local farms to learn more about technologies in Ireland.
Opportunities
During the Monday send-off, many of those who participated in the previous championships shared their experiences.
Dr. Patrick Ssekimpi, the chairperson of the Dairy Farmers Network, who visited in 2017, said they were fascinated by the fact that, as of December 2020, dairy farmers in Ireland were producing over 8 billion litres of milk a year from 6.5 million cattle compared to Uganda’s 2.7 billion litres of milk from over 14 million cattle.
The others who shared their experiences were Abel Kiddu of African Mushroom growers at Makindye, Racheal Najjuuko from Mukono and Jessica Kyoshabire Bitwire of JB International Training and Resource Centre who visited Ireland in 2018.
The farmers travelling
- Godfrey Muwonge – Veterinary – Sonnet Medicals
- Rachael Namuddu – Butambala Youth Agricultural Scheme
- Ivan Arinaitwe -Damazo Grain Millers
- Bwanika Dauda – Najja Quality Chicks and Animal feeds
- Evelyn Kirabo – African Mushroom Growers LTD
- Ben Kaggwa – Quality Chicks an Animal feed
- Isaac Ekoju – Director Mukono Eko Farm
- Peter Nsubuga – Dezi Mixed Farm, Lugazi
- Mutebi Ssuna Bashir – Mixed Farm Uganda
- Denis Mutaba – Kitale Mixed Farm Isaac Ssekitoleko – Bwazimbera Dairy Farm
