Kiiza calls for revival of farm institutes

The Leader of Opposition in Parliament Winnie Kiiza has called for the revival of district farm institutes as one of the necessary interventions for boosting the volume of production in the agriculture sector.

"District farm institutes are essential in developing skills, promoting modern technologies and high yielding varieties," she explained.

According to a statement, the Kasese woman MP also pushed for promotion of mechanized agriculture and agro processing facilities in zones with comparative production advantage.

Speaking during the Uganda UK Convention in London last Friday, Kiiza said improved accessibility to water for production would provide viable investment opportunities for maximizing agricultural production.

She elaborated that well-guided agricultural production aided with machinery and value adding equipment would not only guarantee food security but also greatly improve the economic welfare of Ugandans.

With such interventions, the Kiiza said the high rate of unemployment in the country would be brought down as many employment opportunities would be created.

At the same event, the Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga implored Ugandans in the diaspora to extend their funds, skills and experience in the development of Uganda especially in boosting agro-processing.

Uganda's Trade envoy to UK, Lord Dolar Amarshi Popat, appreciated the bilateral trade between the two countries.

"Uganda has become a key economic partner in the region and it is the right to exploit her utmost potential," said Popat, a Ugandan of Indian origin who is among the most successful Ugandans in UK in business and politics.

Various speakers at the convention emphasized the need for Uganda government to address skills and entrepreneurial deficits which are constraining value addition.

The Uganda UK Convention started in 2011 as a trade and investment forum that engages political leaders, experts, technocrats, entrepreneurs, institutions, and Ugandans in diaspora in promoting investment opportunities in Uganda.

This year's convention focused on strategies, techniques and tools an investor needs to know to successful do business in Uganda as well as sectors with many investment opportunities like tourism, transport, utilities, ICT, renewable energy, manufacturing and agriculture.