AGRICULTURE MINISTRY FLAGS OFF HAND TRACTORS FOR SMALLHOLDERS AHEAD OF SECOND PLANTING SEASON.
As farmers prepare for the planting season, and with warnings of Elnino rains coming, the ministry of agriculture has launched a programme to support farmers prepare their gardens, but also be resilient during harder times. In a series of events , recently the ministry flagged off nationwide distribution of fertilizer, this has been boost by another =gift to farmers with hand tractors. according to Commissioner Engineer stephen okanya, the Agricultural Mechanization: 150 Single Axle Tractors have been handed over to farmer groups across Uganda by Hon. Desire Muhooza, the Minister of State for Agriculture.
he said the Beneficiaries will sign a renewable 3-year MOU, get up to 1,000 hours of maintenance support. The tractors which were handed over at a ceremony in Kampala were availed through the world bank funded Uganda Climate Smart Agricultural Transformation Project implemented by ministry of agriculture..
Speaking at the handover ceremony, the state minister for agriculture Hon Desire Muhooza urged farmers to utilize the tractors but also share with other farmers to enable quick preparation of gardens before season starts.
“we should have no reason to fail to produce this season, government is doing its best to see that we equip farmers to prepare for the season and also to increase production and productivity.” adds Hon Muhooza
The Uganda Climate Smart Agricultural Transformation Project (UCSATP) is a Government of Uganda Project implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) and its agencies, the National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO), the National Animal Genetic Resources Centre and Data Bank (NAGRC&DB) and Department of Meteorology (DoM), Ministry of Water and environment with support from The World Bank Group . The project development objective is to increase productivity, market access and resilience of select value chains in the project area and to respond promptly and effectively to an eligible crisis or emergency.