NAADS gets ‘walking tractors’
Apr 07, 2008
THE Government has launched 50 “walking tractorsâ€. The Thailand-made tractors were acquired by the agriculture ministry and the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) programme.
By Ronald Kalyango
and David Muwanga
THE Government has launched 50 “walking tractorsâ€. The Thailand-made tractors were acquired by the agriculture ministry and the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) programme. They cost sh4.5m each compared to sh60m for a 65-horse power tractor.
The multipurpose single-axle tractors are suitable for small-scale farmers in both swampy and dry land. They are called ‘walking tractors’ because farmers use them while walking.
According to a study by NAADS, it costs sh90,000 to use a hoe to open up an acre of land, sh70,000 for a conventional tractor, sh30,000 for an ox-plough and sh25,000 when a farmer uses a “walking tractorâ€.
“Many farmers depend on the hoe, with only a few accessing tractors,†said Museveni in a speech read by Kirunda Kivejinja, the third deputy prime minister.
This, he added, had encouraged several able-bodied youth to abandon farming.
“With the new tractors, we want to make farming attractive and rewarding. The Government has identified several issues that must be addressed to ensure that agricultural mechanisation becomes a reality,†he said.
The function, held at the Agricultural Engineering and Appropriate Technology Research Institute in Namalere, Wakiso district, on Saturday attracted farmers and district leaders from the 80 districts where NAADS operates.
Museveni said the availability of affordable appropriate technology and provision of supporting infrastructure and services would boost agricultural mechanisation.
Animal industry state minister Maj. Bright Rwamirama said the tractors would increase agricultural productivity, raise standards of living and create food security.
“Agriculture is government’s priority as it contributes to 80% of the gross domestic product. It employs 80% of our people and 37% of our exports are agricultural products,†he said.
The acting NAADS executive director, Dr. Joseph Oryokot, said they would give out the tractors through the Integrated Support to Farmers Groups strategy, which is like a loan scheme.
The beneficiaries, to be selected basing on their credit worthiness, have to open bank accounts and deposit money for the tractors.
“After depositing the total cost of the machinery, the money will remain their property and enable them acquire additional farm inputs,†explained Oryokot.
He said testing and evaluation of the performance of the tractors was carried out in Soroti, Mukono, Bushenyi and Kitgum.
“The results showed that the tractor could successfully open up land in light soils. The tractor can also transport farm produce and goods of up to 1,000 kilogrammes on a simple trailer, which can be fabricated locally,†Oryokot added.
and David Muwanga
THE Government has launched 50 “walking tractorsâ€. The Thailand-made tractors were acquired by the agriculture ministry and the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) programme. They cost sh4.5m each compared to sh60m for a 65-horse power tractor.
The multipurpose single-axle tractors are suitable for small-scale farmers in both swampy and dry land. They are called ‘walking tractors’ because farmers use them while walking.
According to a study by NAADS, it costs sh90,000 to use a hoe to open up an acre of land, sh70,000 for a conventional tractor, sh30,000 for an ox-plough and sh25,000 when a farmer uses a “walking tractorâ€.
“Many farmers depend on the hoe, with only a few accessing tractors,†said Museveni in a speech read by Kirunda Kivejinja, the third deputy prime minister.
This, he added, had encouraged several able-bodied youth to abandon farming.
“With the new tractors, we want to make farming attractive and rewarding. The Government has identified several issues that must be addressed to ensure that agricultural mechanisation becomes a reality,†he said.
The function, held at the Agricultural Engineering and Appropriate Technology Research Institute in Namalere, Wakiso district, on Saturday attracted farmers and district leaders from the 80 districts where NAADS operates.
Museveni said the availability of affordable appropriate technology and provision of supporting infrastructure and services would boost agricultural mechanisation.
Animal industry state minister Maj. Bright Rwamirama said the tractors would increase agricultural productivity, raise standards of living and create food security.
“Agriculture is government’s priority as it contributes to 80% of the gross domestic product. It employs 80% of our people and 37% of our exports are agricultural products,†he said.
The acting NAADS executive director, Dr. Joseph Oryokot, said they would give out the tractors through the Integrated Support to Farmers Groups strategy, which is like a loan scheme.
The beneficiaries, to be selected basing on their credit worthiness, have to open bank accounts and deposit money for the tractors.
“After depositing the total cost of the machinery, the money will remain their property and enable them acquire additional farm inputs,†explained Oryokot.
He said testing and evaluation of the performance of the tractors was carried out in Soroti, Mukono, Bushenyi and Kitgum.
“The results showed that the tractor could successfully open up land in light soils. The tractor can also transport farm produce and goods of up to 1,000 kilogrammes on a simple trailer, which can be fabricated locally,†Oryokot added.