Iganga gets sh82b rice project
May 12, 2009
PEARL Oil and the National Agriculture Advisory Services (NAADS) have started a $37m (about sh82b) commercial rice farming project in Iganga district.
By Ben Mugisha
PEARL Oil and the National Agriculture Advisory Services (NAADS) have started a $37m (about sh82b) commercial rice farming project in Iganga district.
The multi-million-dollar project is a public-private partnership. Supported by the local population, the project at the Naigobwa swamp, covers Buyanga, Nasuti and Namalemba sub-counties.
Asuman Kyafu, the Iganga district chairman, described the project as “a dream come true.†He said the project would help local households come out of poverty since it was in the line with the Government’s Prosperity-For-All programme. Kyafu said the location of the project was determined after a “willing buyer, willing seller†agreement.
Over 1,000 acres of land have so far been acquired under this arrangement. “The investor (Pearl) Oil shall inject in 60% of the total cost of the project, while NAADS shall meet 40% of the cost.â€
Kyafu refuted press reports that the investors were forcefully buying an acre of land at a paltry sh35,000, saying it was bought at between sh350,000 and sh550,000.
PEARL Oil and the National Agriculture Advisory Services (NAADS) have started a $37m (about sh82b) commercial rice farming project in Iganga district.
The multi-million-dollar project is a public-private partnership. Supported by the local population, the project at the Naigobwa swamp, covers Buyanga, Nasuti and Namalemba sub-counties.
Asuman Kyafu, the Iganga district chairman, described the project as “a dream come true.†He said the project would help local households come out of poverty since it was in the line with the Government’s Prosperity-For-All programme. Kyafu said the location of the project was determined after a “willing buyer, willing seller†agreement.
Over 1,000 acres of land have so far been acquired under this arrangement. “The investor (Pearl) Oil shall inject in 60% of the total cost of the project, while NAADS shall meet 40% of the cost.â€
Kyafu refuted press reports that the investors were forcefully buying an acre of land at a paltry sh35,000, saying it was bought at between sh350,000 and sh550,000.