MUK launches anti-poverty project
MAKERERE University has launched a new agricultural project aimed at enhancing agricultural innovations to eradicate poverty in the country.
By Jeff Lule
MAKERERE University has launched a new agricultural project aimed at enhancing agricultural innovations to eradicate poverty in the country.
The project, codenamed “Graduates to Foster Change through Agricultural Innovations†(GO4IT), is a regional initiative being implemented in three universities. The include Makerere University, Egerton University in Kenya and in Bunda College of Agriculture at the University of Malawi.
The initiative, which was launched yesterday at the department of food science and technology, is funded by the European Commission and supported by the African Caribbean and Pacific Science and Technology.
Launching the project on behalf of the university’s vice-chancellor, the dean of the faculty of agriculture, Prof. Samuel Kyamanywa, said GO4IT is aimed at equipping mid-career and young professionals, experts, organisations and rural people with agriculture innovations.
He said GO4IT is building on the existing programmes to respond to the emerging development challenges and labour market demands related to the agricultural sector. Â
“It will involve equipping all stakeholders through research and development with the essential competencies, knowledge, attitude and skills to facilitate innovation processes for rural economic development through application of science and technology,†Kyamaywa said.
He noted that things have been theoretically taught by lecturers, adding that it is the reason most agricultural practioners are lagging behind.
“Lecturers and other experts will be tasked to go to the field and put their theories into practice to create a sense of belonging. Students will strictly train on jobs,†he said.
Kyamaywa said this will help farmers to access solutions to their challenges as they learn new skills during their interaction with experts.
He noted that it was mandatory for all the institutions to lay strategies to address the challenges of economic development to support the countries programmes.
The head of the department of agriculture economics and agribusiness, Dr. Johnny Mugisha, said the programme will support the country in achieving the national development plans in the next five years and the Millennium Development Goal on poverty eradication.
Mugisha stressed that poor quality education has left many graduates on the streets because they cannot put in practice what they were taught.
“But this programme is going to help both the rural communities and the graduates. Our people will go into communities in rural areas and give the necessary skills to promote agriculture innovations,†he said.
The programme coordinator, Dr. Prossy Isibuka, said they had introduced a four-year doctorate programme and a mid-career training on innovation for rural development.
The project will be coordinated by the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture.
MAKERERE University has launched a new agricultural project aimed at enhancing agricultural innovations to eradicate poverty in the country.
The project, codenamed “Graduates to Foster Change through Agricultural Innovations†(GO4IT), is a regional initiative being implemented in three universities. The include Makerere University, Egerton University in Kenya and in Bunda College of Agriculture at the University of Malawi.
The initiative, which was launched yesterday at the department of food science and technology, is funded by the European Commission and supported by the African Caribbean and Pacific Science and Technology.
Launching the project on behalf of the university’s vice-chancellor, the dean of the faculty of agriculture, Prof. Samuel Kyamanywa, said GO4IT is aimed at equipping mid-career and young professionals, experts, organisations and rural people with agriculture innovations.
He said GO4IT is building on the existing programmes to respond to the emerging development challenges and labour market demands related to the agricultural sector. Â
“It will involve equipping all stakeholders through research and development with the essential competencies, knowledge, attitude and skills to facilitate innovation processes for rural economic development through application of science and technology,†Kyamaywa said.
He noted that things have been theoretically taught by lecturers, adding that it is the reason most agricultural practioners are lagging behind.
“Lecturers and other experts will be tasked to go to the field and put their theories into practice to create a sense of belonging. Students will strictly train on jobs,†he said.
Kyamaywa said this will help farmers to access solutions to their challenges as they learn new skills during their interaction with experts.
He noted that it was mandatory for all the institutions to lay strategies to address the challenges of economic development to support the countries programmes.
The head of the department of agriculture economics and agribusiness, Dr. Johnny Mugisha, said the programme will support the country in achieving the national development plans in the next five years and the Millennium Development Goal on poverty eradication.
Mugisha stressed that poor quality education has left many graduates on the streets because they cannot put in practice what they were taught.
“But this programme is going to help both the rural communities and the graduates. Our people will go into communities in rural areas and give the necessary skills to promote agriculture innovations,†he said.
The programme coordinator, Dr. Prossy Isibuka, said they had introduced a four-year doctorate programme and a mid-career training on innovation for rural development.
The project will be coordinated by the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture.