Soroti residents trained on modern farming

Farmers in Soroti district have been trained on modern methods of farming to achieve improved agricultural output.

The training was conducted by the officials from the Ministry of Agriculture with emphasis on conservative agriculture. 

Farmers were taught modern agriculture like digging contours in their gardens to trap water, digging basins where crops can be planted and using artificial and organic fertilisers among others.

David Oruka, a specialist on conservative agriculture in the Ministry, said the training is aimed at orienting farmers with modern agriculture to match the changing climatic conditions.

Oruka urged farmers to adopt new forms of agriculture to curb food shortage arising out of the changing climatic conditions accompanied by loss in soil fertility.

"You should make the best use of little available land to attain improved agricultural output, dig a small portion of land to get much other than digging much to accrue little" Oruka told farmers.

He encouraged farmers to use organic manure like grass, chicken waste, cow dung, decomposed rubbish to maintain soil fertility instead of using inorganic fertilisers which need more knowledge.

Moses Alinaitwe, the agro forestry research technician, Nabuin ZARDI, warned farmers against burning bushes and cutting down trees as it may compromise the fertility of the soil.

However he encouraged farmers to plant trees to help in conserving the environment by being wind breakers and agents of rain formation.

Steven Aloikin, the trainer for Gweri Sub County in Soroti district blamed the failure by people to plant trees for a long period of time that allows them to mature.

He urged government to supply fast maturing tress to farmers to ensure sustainability.