500 farmers trained on vegetable production

At least 500 farmers in Acholi will be trained on vegetable production under Northern Uganda Farmers Livelihood Improvement Project (NUFLIP).

This is part of a drive to promote market-oriented agriculture and also improve on the quality of life in the sub-region, which bore the brunt of the Lord's Resistance Army conflict for over 20 years.

Peter Makumbi, a technical staff at NUFLIP, said the five-year project is in its second year and is already being implemented in three model districts - Gulu, Kitgum and Pader.

He added that it is being funded by Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) and the Government of Uganda.

Makumbi said the project is currently training farmers to conduct market survey before planting vegetables, as this would make them to access the market potential and, thereafter, make a better decision.

He said a survey conducted in Acholi indicates that the demand for vegetables in the region is high, yet most of the vegetables in the markets are from other districts, such Mbale and Lira.