Government Hands over Agricultural Equipment & Related Infrastructure worth Ugx49 billion to Farmers in Rwenzori Region
The Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries Hon. Frank Tumwebaze has commissioned and handed over agricultural equipment and other agro-infrastructure to farmers under the Agro-industrialization for Local Economic Development (AGRILED) Programme. This was during a 3 day visit to Tooro sub region in which he conducted monitoring the progress of implementation of Government projects.
AGRILED is a presidential initiative piloted in Rwenzori region to spur economic development in the region through agro-industrialization focusing on increased production, improved storage, value addition and marketing.
In FY 2019/20, Operation Wealth Creation under the patronage of the Chief Coordinator Gen. Saleh pioneered the identification and prioritization of projects under the AGRILED with Rwenzori as a pilot subregion. Implementation of the programme commenced in financial year 2020/21 when government released Ugx49bn to NAADS Secretariat, the lead implementor of the programme under the Ministry of Local Government which hosts the AGRILED Secretariat.
The programme is being implemented in 11 Local Government of Kasese, Kitagwenda, Bunyangabu, Kabarole, Kyegegwa, Kyenjojo, Ntoroko, Bundibugyo, Kamwenge, Fort Portal City and Kasese Municipality.
Ou of the Ugx49bn, NAADS Secretariat procured 13 tractors, 12 milk coolers7 maize mills and their structures, 2 feed mills and their structures, 2 mini dairy processing facilities, one rice mill and 7 coffee hullers. NAADS also constructed 5 grain stores and is in the process of constructing 10 agricultural markets. Under the same programme, NAADS will establish 2 irrigation schemes in Kamwenge and Kasese districts. Under the same programme, NAADS has constructed an induatrial park in Kasese district and another one is set to be constructed in Kabarole district.
During the 3 day visit to Tooro, Minister Tumwebaze accompanied by State Ministers Hon. Bright Rwamirama and Hon. Hellen Adoa commissioned some of the completed projects and handed them over to the selected farmer beneficiaries.
The Minister started in Kyegegwa where he handed over a grain store, a maize mill, feed mill and 4 milk coolers to the beneficiary farmer associations. In Bunyangabu district, he handed over 5 tractors, 4 milk coolers and 2 maize mills. He ended his visit in Kamwenge on Friday 17th June where he handed over 8 tractors and 4 milk coolers to farmer beneficiaries in both Kamwenge and Kitagwenda districts. Farmers in the two districts are also set to receive 2 maize mills, 2 grain stores and 3 coffee hullers.
Minister Tumwebaze cautioned the beneficiaries of the equipment and agricultural infrastructure to put them to good use and warned that those who will be found misusing or under utilizing them, they will be taken away from them and given to serious farmers.
Grace Fatuma Kazigati who represented the Executive Director NAADS noted that the support offered to farmers in the region will serve as a fertile ground for pillar one of the Parish Development Model (PDM) which is increasing production and productivity, value addition and marketing.
She urged the beneficiaries of the tractors to make effective use of the guidelines in operating the tractors saying that NAADS organized a 3 week training for 2 tractor operators per tractor at Mukono ZARDI. She also urged the beneficiaries to put the equipment to good use.
“Since these projects were demanded and requested for by the farmers themselves, there is no reason why they should end up as white elephants as we have seen elsewhere@, said Kazigati.
She assured the farmers that implementation of the programme was still ongoing, and more farmers were yet to benefit. She reiterated government commitment to continue providing technical support to the beneficiaries, do regular supervision and periodic monitoring to ensure value for money for these projects.
