President Yoweri Museveni has reiterated his call to the people of Busoga region to replace sugarcane and cotton farming with high-value agriculture enterprises.

He believes that the two crops should instead be left for people with more than five acres of land. The move is aimed at reducing poverty levels said to be high in the region.

Farming enterprises that Museveni recommends for the region include coffee, fruits and vegetables, pasture growing for zero grazing, food production, piggery and poultry at the backyard and then fish farming.

But for fish farming to thrive, Museveni advises those still growing rice in swamps to vacate to allow the swamp to regenerate and have enough water that can be used for irrigation.

He gives an example of the Government's intervention in Limoto Swamp in Pallisa district, where rice farmers were taken away from rice growing in the swamp to use the edges of the swamp for fish farming.

“I made fish ponds at the edge of the swamp, not in the swamp, my people started earning seven times more than what they were getting from rice growing in swamps. So, you can have fish farming which is also friendly to the environment,” Museveni adds.

He says much as the Government is promoting irrigation, it may not be possible if all swamps are not restored because that is where the water comes from.

Livestock farming

For those interested in zero grazing, Museveni advises that improved cattle breeds should be considered as opposed to local breeds. According to him, local breeds require big chunks of land while improved breeds can be kept in small pieces of land.

He has, however, promised to return to Busoga region, to continue with his wealth-creation campaign at a date to be communicated.

Museveni made the recommendations on Friday during celebrations to mark the 38th NRM Liberation Day anniversary at Waikataka in Jinja city. In attendance was First Lady and Minister of Education, Mrs Janet Museveni, Cabinet and Members of Parliament, among others.