Farmers in Mayuge receive fruit tree seedlings to fight poverty

MAYUGE - In a bid to boost agricultural productivity and socio-economic growth in Busoga, Buginyanya ZARDI has distributed improved seeds and fruit tree seedlings to various farmer groups in Mayuge district.

Buginyanya ZARDI empowered the farmer groups to foster a more resilient and prosperous agricultural sector in Mayuge and the wider Busoga sub-region.

The distribution event took place at Ikulwe Satellite Station in Mayuge district and was overseen by the director of Buginyanya ZARDI, Dr Nasser Kasozi.

Members of the Busoga Regional Members Network, an association that governs certified public accountants (CPAs)in the Busoga sub-region, were also among the beneficiaries.

Dr Kasozi revealed that NARO has signed Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with various cultural institutions, including one signed last year with the Busoga Kingdom.

The objective is for the Kingdom to act as a gateway through which NARO technologies can reach end users.

“Distributing fruit tree seedlings and improved varieties of seed is an initiative that has started between NARO and CPAs and is aimed at upscaling NARO technologies in various districts in the Busoga sub-region—we want farmers to move from subsistence to commercial farming as well as increasing the money economy of farmers,” Dr Kasozi said.

He noted that, according to reports, Busoga has higher poverty levels compared to other regions, and urged farmers to leverage collaborative efforts to boost agricultural productivity and socio-economic growth by utilising the different NARO technologies at Ikulwe Satellite Station to uplift areas still grappling with poverty.

Dr Kasozi further encouraged farmers to embrace technology transfer mechanisms by visiting Ikulwe to learn about the available technologies and agronomy practices, free of charge.

The Head of Ikulwe Satelite Station Dr. Moses Kayiira (L) and the Director Buginyanya ZARDI Dr. Nasser Kasozi (2nd L) handing over a sack of NARO bean 1 seed to accountants under Busoga Regional Members Network led by CPA Nuru Nabwire (R) at Ikulwe Satelite Station in Mayuge district. (Credit: Donald Kiirya)

He added that the seeds and fruit tree seedlings distributed by Buginyanya ZARDI at Ikulwe were carefully selected to meet the needs of local farmers.

The head of Ikulwe Satellite Station, Dr Moses Kayiira, clarified that they had distributed fruit seedlings, not fully grown fruit trees, which included improved varieties of mango, jackfruit, orange, Hass avocado, and eucalyptus seedlings. Other items distributed included bags of improved NAROCAS cassava cuttings and NARO Bean 1 seeds, among others.

Dr Kayiira also provided beneficiaries with basic principles and practices for controlling witchweed (Striga hermonthica) in their gardens. These included prevention, hand weeding, crop rotation, fertility management, intercropping, cropping system approaches, chemical control, integrated weed control, and relay cropping.

CPA Nuru Nabwire Kamanya, chairperson of the Busoga Regional Members Network, said the fruit tree planting initiative was part of their association’s work plan for this year (January to December) and that they decided to partner with NARO to lobby for fruit and non-fruit tree seedlings to empower local communities.

“Basing on statistics, Busoga sub-region has been lagging behind in poverty and we feel as accountants—we went to school because our parents had some income levels and for this matter, if one is able to plant eucalyptus for three years, they can be able to take their children to primary, secondary and university and also afford the very basics of life,” Nabwire said.

She added that the association is empowering the community to eradicate poverty, boost income levels in households, and also contribute to boosting the country's GDP.

Nabwire further cautioned the youth against selling their ancestral land to buy bodaboda motorcycles, urging them instead to utilise their land for commercial farming.

NARO’s senior communications officer, Frank Mugabi, said NARO was pleased to partner with CPAs under the Busoga Regional Members Network in the initiative.