Current rains can boost farmers’ livelihoods
Sep 28, 2011
THE current rains can bring a sustained breeze of relief to all of us but more so to the over 20 million Ugandans whose livelihoods depend on either crop cultivation or animal raring.
By Patrick Mutegeki
THE current rains can bring a sustained breeze of relief to all of us but more so to the over 20 million Ugandans whose livelihoods depend on either crop cultivation or animal raring.
There are associated discomforts in areas where floods are occurring. But given the hurdles that Ugandans have experienced in the past six months, this is a time when nature gives us a hand against challenges like commodity prices and low incomes.
It is, therefore, a time when the message about this wonderful resource should be carried to the entire country especially regarding the urgency of this and future seasons.
A time when, regardless of our political affiliations, we would send a common message that utilising the current rains to boost agricultural output and value addition benefits us all.
The farmer would benefit by having more harvest for home consumption and also for sale in order to increase personal income. Such income would enable them afford salt, soap, clothing and school stationary for their children.
Better access to regular nutritious meals would improve farmers’ children’s immunity and reduce the frequency and impact of disease on family health. This would reduce the need to spend on family medical care.
For the urban non farming communities, the benefits would equally be as good. These would include fresh farm produce at a market nearby and at a relatively modest prices.
Another benefit for the urban setting would include employment benefits. Jobs for those trading in moving farm produce from the gardens to the markets as well as those employed within the markets themselves would be secured in this process. Value addition establishments are the other beneficiaries.
So what can we practically do about this potential? Each one of us can play a role. We can talk or write about it with a major purpose of drawing attention to the benefits. But more significantly, we can contribute to enabling farmers have better capacity to sustainably utilise the potential. This includes the capacity to plant market oriented fast yielding and high quality seeds. It also includes capacity to hygienically harvest and store produce.
After gaining the harvest, some of it as early as late November or December this year, the farmer needs access to viable markets. But many subsistence farmers may not have the accurate information and finances needed to reach markets outside the harvest zone to enjoy prices that are relatively higher.
This is where they urgently need information about potentially well-paying markets as well as how to benefit from accessing micro financing especially through SACCOs. For those that may not be able to individually bring their produce to major markets, teaming up in small easy to coordinate groups under specific guidelines may help for this cause.
Associate Dean KIU
THE current rains can bring a sustained breeze of relief to all of us but more so to the over 20 million Ugandans whose livelihoods depend on either crop cultivation or animal raring.
There are associated discomforts in areas where floods are occurring. But given the hurdles that Ugandans have experienced in the past six months, this is a time when nature gives us a hand against challenges like commodity prices and low incomes.
It is, therefore, a time when the message about this wonderful resource should be carried to the entire country especially regarding the urgency of this and future seasons.
A time when, regardless of our political affiliations, we would send a common message that utilising the current rains to boost agricultural output and value addition benefits us all.
The farmer would benefit by having more harvest for home consumption and also for sale in order to increase personal income. Such income would enable them afford salt, soap, clothing and school stationary for their children.
Better access to regular nutritious meals would improve farmers’ children’s immunity and reduce the frequency and impact of disease on family health. This would reduce the need to spend on family medical care.
For the urban non farming communities, the benefits would equally be as good. These would include fresh farm produce at a market nearby and at a relatively modest prices.
Another benefit for the urban setting would include employment benefits. Jobs for those trading in moving farm produce from the gardens to the markets as well as those employed within the markets themselves would be secured in this process. Value addition establishments are the other beneficiaries.
So what can we practically do about this potential? Each one of us can play a role. We can talk or write about it with a major purpose of drawing attention to the benefits. But more significantly, we can contribute to enabling farmers have better capacity to sustainably utilise the potential. This includes the capacity to plant market oriented fast yielding and high quality seeds. It also includes capacity to hygienically harvest and store produce.
After gaining the harvest, some of it as early as late November or December this year, the farmer needs access to viable markets. But many subsistence farmers may not have the accurate information and finances needed to reach markets outside the harvest zone to enjoy prices that are relatively higher.
This is where they urgently need information about potentially well-paying markets as well as how to benefit from accessing micro financing especially through SACCOs. For those that may not be able to individually bring their produce to major markets, teaming up in small easy to coordinate groups under specific guidelines may help for this cause.
Associate Dean KIU