Uganda, Korea to establish agric village in Mpigi

By RONALD KALYANGO

A $3m (about sh8b) agricultural model village project is to be established in Mpigi district.

 Discussions over the financing and establishment of the project between Uganda Government and a delegation from South Korea were held at the National Farmers' Leadership Centre (NFLC) in Kampiringisa, Mpigi.

The minister of agriculture, animal industry and fisheries Tress Bucyanayandi held the discussions with the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) president, Kim Yong-Mok.

The Model Village Project (MVP) is to benefit about 200 households in Mbute village, Kamengo sub-county.

"Once approved, we expect KOICA to contribute $2.5m while Uganda will allocate $0.5m towards the project," said Dr. Francis Byekwaso, the monitoring and evaluation manager at the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) secretariat.

He said the three-year project to run up to 2017, will be implemented by the NFLC in collaboration with Mpigi district local government. NFLC is under construction.

"The model village initiative will promote an integrated approach to rural development by empowering poor people to engage in sustainable income generating activities," explained Byekwaso.

He said the beneficiary households will have access to safe, clean water, adequate housing and sanitation as well as social services like education, basic health care and environmental sustainability.

"KOICA has extended support towards Uganda's development plan and we are committed to continuing with the support because we want it sustained to ensure the country achieves meaningful development," said Yong-Mok.

Bucyanayandi applauded the South Korean Government for funding several agricultural projects like the NFLC and fruit factory in Soroti district.

The resident construction manager, Joon Kim Dong, said the NFLC construction will be completed in December and admissions for the first batch of trainees will start in January 2014.

"We have achieved 35%, most of the structures like classrooms, dormitories, multi-purpose hall and administration blocks have been roofed," said Dong.

He said there will also be provisions for poultry and piggery pens, five green houses for vegetables, flowers, mushrooms and demonstration gardens for other crops.

"The institute will also focus on field and practice based education, extension education for agricultural workers or trainers and lifestyle education," he explained.

Dong said the ideology of mindset change has paid incredible dividends to his country whereby in 40 years, South Korea, initially among the poorest countries in the World, has attained a rapid socio-economic development.