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Buvuma, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Buvuma Island Member of Parliament Robert Migadde Ndugwa has urged members of his community join him in embracing oil palm growing in order to transform their area economically.
Miggade is one of the out grower scheme oil palm farmers registered in Buvuma with 13 acres of oil palm planted in Kabugombe. He took up oil palm growing following the launch of the National Oil Palm Project (NOPP) in Buvuma in May 2021 by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF).
Connie Magomu Masaba, the Project Manager of the National Oil Palm Project says with funding from International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) the project was extended to Buvuma with an aim of rural transformation following its success in Kalangala district.
She explains that oil growing in Buvuma is being established on one island out of 54 utilizing approximately 7,500 hectares out of more than 22,000 that constitute this particular island leaving the rest of the land for food production among other activities.
“Out of the 7500 hectares, 5,000 hectares will be dedicated to the nucleus estate while 2,500 hectares will be utilized by the small holder farmers,” said Magomu Masaba.
Since Inception, Buvuma has registered over 500 farmers under the out grower scheme with 100 ha of oil palm planted. These farmers, Magomu Masaba said, will begin harvesting oil palm in a period of four years every 10 days for 25 to 30 years which will provide them with steady income.
She said the project is also creating thousands of employment opportunities and income generating opportunities for the residents of Buvuma such as farm workers, drivers among others. The residents of Buvuma, she added, will benefit further as in the long run, the project comes along with electricity, better roads, improved health centers, better schools, and guest houses which will lead to economic development of Buvuma.
