Karamoja benefits from crop cultivation

Sep 07, 2009

STATE Minister for Karamoja Mrs. Janet Museveni’s programme to promote food production in Karamoja has started registering achievements.

By Raymond Baguma

STATE Minister for Karamoja Mrs. Janet Museveni’s programme to promote food production in Karamoja has started registering achievements.

Early this year, a total of 256,000 hoes were distributed to the farming communities, while tractors were fuelled to cultivate land, under an initiative of Mrs. Museveni.

As a result, up to 30,000 acres of land were opened in the greenbelt of Moroto, Nakapiriprit and Abim districts.

The region has experienced a bumper harvest of maize, beans, groundnuts, rice cassava and beans.

Mrs. Museveni’s commitment as well as the good response and positive attitude from the Karimojong has also contributed to this positive development.
According to the the Office of the Prime Minister, Karamoja has the potential to produce food for domestic consuption and for sale.

The permanent secretary, Pius Bigirimana, said the potential lay in Iliri sub-county in Moroto district, Kalenga sub-county in Kaabong district, as well as in Abim and Nakapiripirit districts.

“The western part of Karamoja is a greenbelt, mid-Karamoja is semi-arid, while eastern Karamoja is pastoral,” Bigirimana said on Saturday.

He said Mrs. Museveni had also set water production for human and animal consumption as a priority.

He said funds were available to construct valley dams, adding that considerations to acquire technology to tap storm water for irrigation were under way.

The ministry is also helping the Karimojong to construct low-cost housing units in Moroto district, as well as promoting organised pastoralism.

He attributed the success in agriculture to a sustained campaign and comprehensive programmes s in the region.

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