Government to provide irrigation tools

The government has embarked on the process of procuring local manufacturers to irrigation tools to boost farming and support operation wealth creation programme.

The minister of state for local government Jennifer Namuyango said the move follows President Yoweri Museveni's directive that the irrigation tools be manufactured locally than being imported.

Namuyangu was speaking at Busia district headquarters during a visit to assess the hunger situation in the district.

She said the country would soon go irrigation and reduce the current dependence on weather condition to practice agriculture.

The minister made the remarks in reaction to the concerns raised by Paul Oguttu the area acting district chairperson that government supports the district to make use of Lake Victoria by pumping water for irrigation to support farming.

Oguttu said drought had killed two farming season in the district exposing residents to food insecurity  saying the situation had got out of control and appealed for quick food relief from government.

The chairperson also asked government to provide improved cassava and potato variety which are drought resistant.

Namuyangu however, appealed to the district leaders who included district councilors, sub county chairperson and technical officers to tell people not to waste the little available food they still have.

She also cautioned the residents against selling food to neighbouring Kenya where most of the food produced in Busia and neighbouring district is sold saying it would worsen the situation.

Namuyango ruled out the fact that government would provide food relief noting there were no resources to enable government to give food relief to all Ugandans.

"Government will need to spend shillings 56 billion daily in order to give food relief to all Ugandans," Namuyango said adding such a thing is impossible.

She appealed to the leaders to sensitize residents to take advantage of the little rains to grow vegetables and crops like potatoes which take a short time to mature.

The minister also advised the residents against over spending during the coming festival Christmas season.