NAADS gets new project guidelines
Aug 18, 2010
THE next phase of the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) progarmme will run without tendering. Money will instead be channelled directly to farmers and beneficiaries, President Yoweri Museveni has said.
By Frank Mugabi
THE next phase of the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) progarmme will run without tendering. Money will instead be channelled directly to farmers and beneficiaries, President Yoweri Museveni has said.
According to the President, people awarded tenders have been inflating input prices.
“There has been a problem of inflating rates. A small goat would be bought at a price higher than expected. This has been because of tenderers, whom we are removing from the programme,†Museveni said.
He said farmers would be empowered to make their own procurement but will be monitored by NAADS coordinators and subcounty chiefs to ensure that money is put to proper use.
“I do not see why people who usually handle their own purchases cannot be allowed to procure the agricultural inputs they need,†he noted
Museveni, currently on a tour of Busoga region to promote the Bonna Bagaggawale (Prosperity-
For-All) programme, was yesterday addressing a gathering at Ikumba Primary School in Kiyunga district. The presidential entourage include deputy speaker Rebecca Kadaga, area MP Medi Mulumba, district and local leaders.
The President’s speech was occasionally interrupted by people demanding a higher price for maize grain after the slum in market prices from sh800 to sh150 this season.
He dispelled romours that the Government was behind the low prices, explaining that agricultural produce prices, just like any other merchandise, were determined by market forces.
According to Museveni, last year was characterised by poor maize harvest unlike this season when the region registered bumper yields.
He said the solution was to process the maize into flour, adding that he had directed the finance ministry to allocate funds for establishing a mill at one cooperative society per sub-county.
He also advised the farmers to diversify instead of depending on one crop.
While in Kiyunga, the President visited the farm of Patrick James Bungu, a retried teacher, in Nawanyago village.
Bungu started with one cow in 1976 but now boasts of 101 crossbreed animals. He produces 230 liters of milk everyday and sells 210, earning sh126,000 a day.
To boost his income, Museveni donated a bull, a pick-up truck and also gave sh10m to Namwendwa Dairy Farmers’ Association, to which Bungu belongs.
The President also inspected several farmers’ enterprises and projects to assess the impact of the
Prosperity-For-All programme initiated by the NRM Government and implemented under NAADS.
The programme is aimed at fighting household poverty, ensuring food security and boosting incomes.
Since its inception in 2004, production has tripled, following NAADS promotion of new crop and livestock enterprises, as well as the use of modern agriculture production technology and practices.
NAADS also promoted postharvest technology and commercial marketing of commodities, which has led to surplus production.
The President also visited Dasir Mugoya in Makadwa village, Bugweri sub-county. Mugoya deals in dairy production, pineapple growing and poultry for eggs.
He also inspected a project run by Stanley Bamuwamye in Kasambika village, Nabitende sub-county. He is involved in multiple projects, including banana and fruit production, milk production and poultry.
A visibly impressed Museveni pledged a pick-up truck to Bamuwamye to transport his produce to the market and sh10m to Kasambika Farmers’ Group. He also donated sh5m to Tweyambe Women’s Group.
He urged residents to emulate Bamuwamye, who has demonstrated that the rural areas have the potential to facilitate modern farming to eradicate poverty.
The President made several stop-overs to address the chanting mammoth crowds and later commissioned the Iganga Art Base Cooperative Savings and Credit scheme on Market Street. He pledged sh50m to the SACCO before addressing the people on Eye FM.
The President said the Government would ensure that more farmers benefit from the programme.
Initially, only six farmers were selected as models and trainers. He, however, said this year’s sh120b will be disbursed after he has assessed how the farmers used the money released before.
THE next phase of the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) progarmme will run without tendering. Money will instead be channelled directly to farmers and beneficiaries, President Yoweri Museveni has said.
According to the President, people awarded tenders have been inflating input prices.
“There has been a problem of inflating rates. A small goat would be bought at a price higher than expected. This has been because of tenderers, whom we are removing from the programme,†Museveni said.
He said farmers would be empowered to make their own procurement but will be monitored by NAADS coordinators and subcounty chiefs to ensure that money is put to proper use.
“I do not see why people who usually handle their own purchases cannot be allowed to procure the agricultural inputs they need,†he noted
Museveni, currently on a tour of Busoga region to promote the Bonna Bagaggawale (Prosperity-
For-All) programme, was yesterday addressing a gathering at Ikumba Primary School in Kiyunga district. The presidential entourage include deputy speaker Rebecca Kadaga, area MP Medi Mulumba, district and local leaders.
The President’s speech was occasionally interrupted by people demanding a higher price for maize grain after the slum in market prices from sh800 to sh150 this season.
He dispelled romours that the Government was behind the low prices, explaining that agricultural produce prices, just like any other merchandise, were determined by market forces.
According to Museveni, last year was characterised by poor maize harvest unlike this season when the region registered bumper yields.
He said the solution was to process the maize into flour, adding that he had directed the finance ministry to allocate funds for establishing a mill at one cooperative society per sub-county.
He also advised the farmers to diversify instead of depending on one crop.
While in Kiyunga, the President visited the farm of Patrick James Bungu, a retried teacher, in Nawanyago village.
Bungu started with one cow in 1976 but now boasts of 101 crossbreed animals. He produces 230 liters of milk everyday and sells 210, earning sh126,000 a day.
To boost his income, Museveni donated a bull, a pick-up truck and also gave sh10m to Namwendwa Dairy Farmers’ Association, to which Bungu belongs.
The President also inspected several farmers’ enterprises and projects to assess the impact of the
Prosperity-For-All programme initiated by the NRM Government and implemented under NAADS.
The programme is aimed at fighting household poverty, ensuring food security and boosting incomes.
Since its inception in 2004, production has tripled, following NAADS promotion of new crop and livestock enterprises, as well as the use of modern agriculture production technology and practices.
NAADS also promoted postharvest technology and commercial marketing of commodities, which has led to surplus production.
The President also visited Dasir Mugoya in Makadwa village, Bugweri sub-county. Mugoya deals in dairy production, pineapple growing and poultry for eggs.
He also inspected a project run by Stanley Bamuwamye in Kasambika village, Nabitende sub-county. He is involved in multiple projects, including banana and fruit production, milk production and poultry.
A visibly impressed Museveni pledged a pick-up truck to Bamuwamye to transport his produce to the market and sh10m to Kasambika Farmers’ Group. He also donated sh5m to Tweyambe Women’s Group.
He urged residents to emulate Bamuwamye, who has demonstrated that the rural areas have the potential to facilitate modern farming to eradicate poverty.
The President made several stop-overs to address the chanting mammoth crowds and later commissioned the Iganga Art Base Cooperative Savings and Credit scheme on Market Street. He pledged sh50m to the SACCO before addressing the people on Eye FM.
The President said the Government would ensure that more farmers benefit from the programme.
Initially, only six farmers were selected as models and trainers. He, however, said this year’s sh120b will be disbursed after he has assessed how the farmers used the money released before.