Saleh starts massive maize project
Jul 06, 2009
GENERAL Salim Saleh has thrown his weight behind the anti-poverty war in Nakaseke district by launching a sh600m maize farming project in Kapeeka and Semuto sub-counties.
By Frederick Kiwanuka
GENERAL Salim Saleh has thrown his weight behind the anti-poverty war in Nakaseke district by launching a sh600m maize farming project in Kapeeka and Semuto sub-counties.
Under the public-private-community partnership project launched on Friday, Saleh has leased out free of charge 1,000 acres of his land at Namunkekeera in Kapeeka to 248 farmers from the two sub-counties, for eight years.
The project coordinator, Kyofa Kabuye, said the farmers who have organised themselves into a group, the Kapeeka Maize Growers Association, are to benefit from a sh300m grant provided by the Government and Saleh, to help them mobilise, register, buy seeds and herbicides.
Kabuye said it would roll out to the sub-counties of Nakaseke, Kikamulo, Semuto and Wakyato when more funds are availed.
He cautioned the beneficiaries against breaching the agreement by planting other crops and constructing houses on the land.
Each beneficiary is to be allocated five acres of Saleh’s land from which he/she is expected to get sh8m per season, for seventeen seasons.
In addition to providing free land, Saleh, through Namunkekeera Agro-processing Industry, a newly- established firm, will also provide tractor services and market for the crop at an agreed price, beginning next season.
Saleh, a defence presidential adviser, told the members he was vying for a lucrative deal to supply 3,500 tonnes of maize to the World Food Programme.
The district chairperson, Ignatius Koomu, said the project was another gesture by Saleh and the Government in recognition of the support which the residents gave to the liberation war of the 1980s.
GENERAL Salim Saleh has thrown his weight behind the anti-poverty war in Nakaseke district by launching a sh600m maize farming project in Kapeeka and Semuto sub-counties.
Under the public-private-community partnership project launched on Friday, Saleh has leased out free of charge 1,000 acres of his land at Namunkekeera in Kapeeka to 248 farmers from the two sub-counties, for eight years.
The project coordinator, Kyofa Kabuye, said the farmers who have organised themselves into a group, the Kapeeka Maize Growers Association, are to benefit from a sh300m grant provided by the Government and Saleh, to help them mobilise, register, buy seeds and herbicides.
Kabuye said it would roll out to the sub-counties of Nakaseke, Kikamulo, Semuto and Wakyato when more funds are availed.
He cautioned the beneficiaries against breaching the agreement by planting other crops and constructing houses on the land.
Each beneficiary is to be allocated five acres of Saleh’s land from which he/she is expected to get sh8m per season, for seventeen seasons.
In addition to providing free land, Saleh, through Namunkekeera Agro-processing Industry, a newly- established firm, will also provide tractor services and market for the crop at an agreed price, beginning next season.
Saleh, a defence presidential adviser, told the members he was vying for a lucrative deal to supply 3,500 tonnes of maize to the World Food Programme.
The district chairperson, Ignatius Koomu, said the project was another gesture by Saleh and the Government in recognition of the support which the residents gave to the liberation war of the 1980s.