Farmers receive planting materials from NAADS as rainy Season begins

Government through the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) is distributing planting materials to farmers across the country following the start of the rainy season in most parts of the country.

The distribution of the planting materials was delayed to the prolonged dry spell that affected most parts of the country leaving the months of February, March, and a part of April dry. The first crop season is always known to begin in the month of February, however, due to climate change, seasons have changed overtime.

Following the start of the long-awaited rains, farmers across the country are receiving planting materials mainly seeds and seedlings from NAADS under the Operation Wealth Creation Programme.

According to the Crop Development Specialist at NAADS Ms. Proscovia Mutumba, distribution of the planting materials is ongoing in all the districts that requested for them, and it’s done according to the priorities provided by each district.

“Every district is required to submit their priorities to NAADS Secretariat, and it’s based on those priorities and the available resources that we procure the planting materials and deliver them to the districts where farmers receive them at their respective sub county headquarters”, explained Mutumba.

The distribution follows the completion of a verification exercise for the seeds and seedlings that was conducted by inspectors from the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) in collaboration with NAADS officials and the District Local Governments in the different districts across the country.

In this first season of 2022, NAADS has distributed planting materials including 333,333 kilograms of bean seed, 100,000 kilograms o sorghum seed, 80,072 bags of cassava cuttings in Teso sub region and 70,000 bags in Acholi sub region under the Cassava commercialisation project spearheaded by Gulu Archdiocese.

Other planting materials distributed are 5,638,526 tea seedlings in the tea growing districts, 1,249,618 mango seedlings and 1,091,239 citrus seedlings. NAADS also distributed 1,215,000 kilograms of maize seed through the Members of Parliament in all constituencies.

The Executive Director NAADS Dr. Sam Mugasi has cautioned farmers to put the panting materials to good use adhering to proper agronomic practices, control of pests and diseases with support from the relevant technical agricultural officers.

NAADS is also distributing livestock materials ranging from dairy heifers, pigs, poultry and poultry feeds, and fish & fish feeds. Government support under livestock is aimed at improving household incomes and creating sources of improved breeds within the communities. Poultry material is intended to provide a start – up package for developing poultry enterprises.