LC5 blames rice work for aging wives
Jul 18, 2007
WOMEN in Namutumba district are aging so fast because they have failed to adopt new farming technology, the LC5 chairman, Michael Saire, has said, “More women than men are engaged in cultivation but unfortunately they still use rudimentary tools and methods that require a lot of energy yet the out
By Charles Kakamwa
WOMEN in Namutumba district are aging so fast because they have failed to adopt new farming technology, the LC5 chairman, Michael Saire, has said, “More women than men are engaged in cultivation but unfortunately they still use rudimentary tools and methods that require a lot of energy yet the output is too little.â€
Saire claimed this was forcing many husbands to seek younger women. “A woman may spend a full year tending rice gardens in the wetlands. By harvest time, she is really worn-out, which forces the husband to look out for a replacement,†Saire explained.
He was addressing farmers in Bubago village after touring activities of the National Agriculture Advisory Services (NAADS) in Nsinze, Ivukula, Kibaale and Magada subcounties on Saturday.
He advised farmers to attend agricultural seminars and fairs where they could get advice on modern and appropriate farming techniques such as the growing of upland rice. He noted that this type of rice matures in three months, can be planted near homes and allows the farmer to engage in other income-generating activities, unlike the traditional variety.
Kagoda lamented that most youth shun farming, adding that NAADS activities in many areas were dominated by women. He wondered how the youth, who, he said, normally complain about poverty, would reverse the situation if they do not participate in programmes initiated by the government to alleviate it.
Namutumba NAADS coordinator James Bakalikwira urged residents to adopt upland rice, so as to save wetlands from degradation.
He also advised them to improve the post-harvest handling of foodstuffs to maintain their quality in order to fetch good prices.
Saire, accompanied by Kaliro LC5 chairman Elijah Kagoda, councillors and technical staff, toured rice, mangoes, oranges, pineapple, poultry and fish farms.
WOMEN in Namutumba district are aging so fast because they have failed to adopt new farming technology, the LC5 chairman, Michael Saire, has said, “More women than men are engaged in cultivation but unfortunately they still use rudimentary tools and methods that require a lot of energy yet the output is too little.â€
Saire claimed this was forcing many husbands to seek younger women. “A woman may spend a full year tending rice gardens in the wetlands. By harvest time, she is really worn-out, which forces the husband to look out for a replacement,†Saire explained.
He was addressing farmers in Bubago village after touring activities of the National Agriculture Advisory Services (NAADS) in Nsinze, Ivukula, Kibaale and Magada subcounties on Saturday.
He advised farmers to attend agricultural seminars and fairs where they could get advice on modern and appropriate farming techniques such as the growing of upland rice. He noted that this type of rice matures in three months, can be planted near homes and allows the farmer to engage in other income-generating activities, unlike the traditional variety.
Kagoda lamented that most youth shun farming, adding that NAADS activities in many areas were dominated by women. He wondered how the youth, who, he said, normally complain about poverty, would reverse the situation if they do not participate in programmes initiated by the government to alleviate it.
Namutumba NAADS coordinator James Bakalikwira urged residents to adopt upland rice, so as to save wetlands from degradation.
He also advised them to improve the post-harvest handling of foodstuffs to maintain their quality in order to fetch good prices.
Saire, accompanied by Kaliro LC5 chairman Elijah Kagoda, councillors and technical staff, toured rice, mangoes, oranges, pineapple, poultry and fish farms.