Farmers tipped on food security

PIC: Christopher Kibanzanga, the state minister for agriculture (File photo)

FARMING

BUNDIBUGYO - The state minister for agriculture, Christopher Kibanzanga, has urged farmers in Bundibugyo district to adopt the presidential 5 acre mode of farming to promote food security in the district.

He made the remarks after clearing three acres of cocoa on his eight acres of land to create space for growing food crops alongside cocoa.

Kibanzanga cut down cocoa trees in Bulemba village, Bukonzo sub-county in Bundibugyo district.

"As a leader, I am clearing part of my cocoa garden in order to grow food crops in a way to demonstrate the fight against food insecurity in Bundibugyo and Rwenzori region," he said.

Kibanzanga told the farmers in his constituency that Bundibugyo is contributing over sh280b to the national economy from cocoa.

"We are all most contributing over sh280b to the national economy so we need to support the economy with other enterprise," he added.

The presidential 5 acre mode involves having different enterprises on a small piece of land for food crops, animal rearing and cash crops.

"I am replacing cocoa with maize, bananas, cassava and beans and other food crops," Kibanzanga said. 

Capt. Cool Peter Muliwabyo, the Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) co-ordinator for Bugendhera constituency, told farmers to emulate leaders in fighting food insecurity in the district.

He said the government will continue giving farmers seedlings. Muliwabyo urged vanilla farmers to report whoever buys immature vanilla to the responsible authorities.

The Bundibugyo district vice-chairperson, Barnabas Binzede urged cocoa farmers to cut part of the cocoa and grow food crops around their homes.