Norway earmarks $2.9m for north
Jun 16, 2008
NORWAY has earmarked $2.9m (about sh4.6b) for supporting resettlement and rehabilitation of war-ravaged communities in northern and eastern Uganda.
By Ronald Kalyango
NORWAY has earmarked $2.9m (about sh4.6b) for supporting resettlement and rehabilitation of war-ravaged communities in northern and eastern Uganda.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the implementing agency, is to provide farm inputs like seeds, vegetative materials and training to improve the people’s agricultural production and incomes.
The areas to be supported are Acholi, Lango and Teso sub-regions.
The FAO country representative, Percy Misika, said the programme would be implemented till December as part of broader efforts to kick-start agricultural development.
About 18,250 households will benefit from improved access to essential agricultural inputs.
The farmers will be provided with vouchers to participate in seed and input fairs.
“Seed fairs have proved to be an effective means of improving access to seeds and for supporting revitalisation of local markets,†Misika said while handing over the planting materials in Amuria district recently.
He said another 6,750 returnee households would benefit under the programme from skills development, diversified input provision and entrepreneurial grants.
The grants will be provided under the Farmer Field School (FFS) approach.
The inputs include livestock (oxen and goats), farm tools (ox-ploughs, pangas, axes) and food processing equipment (grinding mills and oil processing machines).
Misika said FAO had initiated the Farmer Field School approach, a community-based participatory learning process built on the principles of adult education.
FFS participants are organised in groups of about 30 farmers who work together to identify and solve problems.
They later learn and adopt improved agricultural production techniques. They also develop new income generating activities to supplement household income.
NORWAY has earmarked $2.9m (about sh4.6b) for supporting resettlement and rehabilitation of war-ravaged communities in northern and eastern Uganda.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the implementing agency, is to provide farm inputs like seeds, vegetative materials and training to improve the people’s agricultural production and incomes.
The areas to be supported are Acholi, Lango and Teso sub-regions.
The FAO country representative, Percy Misika, said the programme would be implemented till December as part of broader efforts to kick-start agricultural development.
About 18,250 households will benefit from improved access to essential agricultural inputs.
The farmers will be provided with vouchers to participate in seed and input fairs.
“Seed fairs have proved to be an effective means of improving access to seeds and for supporting revitalisation of local markets,†Misika said while handing over the planting materials in Amuria district recently.
He said another 6,750 returnee households would benefit under the programme from skills development, diversified input provision and entrepreneurial grants.
The grants will be provided under the Farmer Field School (FFS) approach.
The inputs include livestock (oxen and goats), farm tools (ox-ploughs, pangas, axes) and food processing equipment (grinding mills and oil processing machines).
Misika said FAO had initiated the Farmer Field School approach, a community-based participatory learning process built on the principles of adult education.
FFS participants are organised in groups of about 30 farmers who work together to identify and solve problems.
They later learn and adopt improved agricultural production techniques. They also develop new income generating activities to supplement household income.