Extension staff failing farmers
Oct 20, 2008
EXTENSION workers employed by the Government to advise farmers on profitable agricultural production have let them down, the state minister for industry, Prof. Ephraim Kamuntu, has said.
By Ronald Kalyango
EXTENSION workers employed by the Government to advise farmers on profitable agricultural production have let them down, the state minister for industry, Prof. Ephraim Kamuntu, has said.
Prof. Kamuntu was speaking after a field visit to Kabulu mixed farm in Asinge B Village, in Tororo district. The farm, operated by a group of farmers, is engaged in fish farming.
The minister found that though the group had six fish ponds, it lacked guidance on how to benefit from the project.
“It is a good project, but extension workers are not helping them to improve it.
“These farmers need regular advice to benefit from their investment,†Kamuntu said during the tour, which was also part of the World Food Day celebrations held in Tororo district last week.
The fisheries state minister, Fred Mukisa, said if properly advised, the group had capacity to earn sh60m annually.
“I have seen other fish farmers earning that much,†Mukisa said.
Ahmed Waita, the leader of the farmers, said the tilapia and cat fish they had put in the ponds were not doing well.
The third deputy Prime Minister, Kirunda Kivejinja, said fish farming was the best enterprise to embrace for the Government’s prosperity for all programme.
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Country Representative, Percy Misika, advised farmers to write proposals for possible funding from FAO.
He said they had only three proposals for possible funding, but from the Ministry of Agriculture.
“We still appeal for more proposals; people don’t know that FAO responds to requests from the government,†said Misika.
He said FAO’s activities were concentrated basically in Northern region and lately the Karamoja region and about 5 to 10% of 1.6 million people who were formerly living in Internally Displaced Camps had benefited from FAO’s efforts.
EXTENSION workers employed by the Government to advise farmers on profitable agricultural production have let them down, the state minister for industry, Prof. Ephraim Kamuntu, has said.
Prof. Kamuntu was speaking after a field visit to Kabulu mixed farm in Asinge B Village, in Tororo district. The farm, operated by a group of farmers, is engaged in fish farming.
The minister found that though the group had six fish ponds, it lacked guidance on how to benefit from the project.
“It is a good project, but extension workers are not helping them to improve it.
“These farmers need regular advice to benefit from their investment,†Kamuntu said during the tour, which was also part of the World Food Day celebrations held in Tororo district last week.
The fisheries state minister, Fred Mukisa, said if properly advised, the group had capacity to earn sh60m annually.
“I have seen other fish farmers earning that much,†Mukisa said.
Ahmed Waita, the leader of the farmers, said the tilapia and cat fish they had put in the ponds were not doing well.
The third deputy Prime Minister, Kirunda Kivejinja, said fish farming was the best enterprise to embrace for the Government’s prosperity for all programme.
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Country Representative, Percy Misika, advised farmers to write proposals for possible funding from FAO.
He said they had only three proposals for possible funding, but from the Ministry of Agriculture.
“We still appeal for more proposals; people don’t know that FAO responds to requests from the government,†said Misika.
He said FAO’s activities were concentrated basically in Northern region and lately the Karamoja region and about 5 to 10% of 1.6 million people who were formerly living in Internally Displaced Camps had benefited from FAO’s efforts.