Abi farm upgraded

By Albert Ayiga Ondoga DR. Kisamba Mugerwa, minister of agriculture, animal industry and fisheries, has announced that Arua District Farm Institute, Abi Farm, has been upgraded to an agriculture development research centre.He said the Research Centre will handle adaptive and applied research to assist farmers under the North West Small Holders Agricultural Development Project in Nebbi, Arua, Yumbe, Moyo and Adjumani.Mugerwa said that to modernise agriculture, each district will establish agricultural development centres where demonstrations can be undertaken.He said the Government was trying to decentralise research from Kawanda, Serere and Namulonge to other ecological zones.Mugerwa was addressing Nebbi district leaders and farmers during a tour of demonstration plots and farmlands in the district recently. He also toured Arua, Moyo and Adjumani.“We are trying to make research to respond to farmers needs by identifying what they want and respond,” Mugerwa said.He said the objective of Plan for Modernisation of Agriculture (PMA) is to transform agriculture from subsistence to commercial and market orientated where farmers are sensitised to change their attitude in order to create food security and increase income. He also announced that funds will be sent by government directly to the sub-counties to help farmers hire service providers through the established farmers fora.