Jinja Agriculture Supplement
Jul 07, 2015
The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations has advised farmers to mechanise in order to increase rice production in Acholi and Lango sub regions
Mechanise farms to increase production — FAO
By Patrick Okino
The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations has advised farmers to mechanise in order to increase rice production in Acholi and Lango sub regions. “Farmers have discovered that it is easier to use a power tiller than an ox-plough. One can operate it anytime,” Moses Oremo, FAO’s project manager for the Lira office said while addressing journalists last week.
Recently, FAO distributed six power-tillers to farmers’ cooperatives groups in Lango and Acholi in order to boost production. According to Oremo, last year, Ayami farmers group produced 200 tonnes of rice while Ayer farmers’ cooperative produced 300 tonnes. “We expect the production to go up since we have given farmers power-tillers and motorised rice threshers,which will ease the work of farmers,” he added.
Farmers in Lango and Acholi were given 12 motorised rice threshers, tarpaulins, weighing scales, moisture metres, fishing nets, wheelbarrows, agricultural limes, pipes, hoes and spades. With a power tiller, a famer can plough an acre in a day.
Oxen would do an equal amount of work in three days or more. “From an acre of land, one can harvest between eight and thirteen bags of produce,” Oremo said, adding that with motorised rice threshers, the quality of rice will improve and get better market. Additional procurement of equipment worth $24,900 (sh1.48b) is underway, according to Oremo.
Jinja farmers show getting better with time
By Joshua Kato and Charles Kakamwa
Jinja is buzzing with activity, thanks to the ongoing annual farmers show. Hosted at the Jinja show grounds near the source of River Nile and organised by the Uganda National Farmers Federation (UNFFE), the show started yesterday and will end on Sunday. The 2015 farmers show is under the theme Climate-smart agriculture for sustainable food security and wealth creation
Best farmers to exhibit in Jinja
By Joshua Kato
Visitors to the Source of the Nile Agriculture Show have got a chance to meet some of Uganda’s best farmers for the year 2014. Judith Bakirya from Busoga region and Lawrence Alisiku from Maracha confirmed that they will be exhibiting their products at the show. Bakirya and Alisiku were the best farmers in a competition organised by Vision Group, the Netherlands Embassy in Uganda, KLM Airlines and dfcu Bank
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