MP appeals for more agric funds

The Government should allocate more funds to the agriculture sector in the national budget, Kakuuto MP Mathias Kasamba has advised. 

 

He said this would empower farmers to increase food production for both domestic consumption and export.

Kasamba made the appeal while contributing to a debate on the final draft of the 2012-2017 Food Security, Population and Development strategic plan at Sheraton Hotel in Kampala on Thursday. 

 

Kasamba said the allocation of funds to the agriculture sector has been on the decline in the recent years, yet it was the backbone of the Uganda’s economy.  

 

“We need to invest more in agriculture by empowering research institutions to come up with new varieties of crops that can survive the harsh weather and pests. The Government also needs to waive taxes on the importation of agriculture inputs like fertilisers,” he said.

 

The debate was organised by the Population Secretariat and funded by the United Nations Population Fund.