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Residents of Isingiro district have been called upon to embrace modern farming to cushion themselves against drought and famine in the district.
The call was made by the president of Rotary Club of Kololo Dr. Rosemary Byanyima during a tour of the The Omukabaare Heifer Project. The project is aimed at mitigating the hunger crisis in the district which reportedly left nine people dead leading to the government’s distribution of food in the district in November last year.
Twenty-two women of Omukabaare Bakyara Twetunguure, a women savings group, each received a heifer, water tank, and veterinary starter kit in 2013 courtesy of the rotary club of Kololo.
Members of the rotary club paid a visit to the members to monitor the project and assess the level of development.
Byanyima told the women group that modern farming methods like zero grazing of hybrid heifers will help them to produce milk for improved nutrition of their families and the surplus for sale to generate income.
Farmers were advised to take lessons from the long dry spell and develop a culture of harvesting rain water for future use during dry seasons.
She told them that soon there will be a lot of rain water and hence the need for all Ugandans especially those engaged in agriculture to harvest it for all-year-round farming activities through irrigation.
“Access to water and sanitation is also vital in reducing women and girls’ workload since culturally, fetching water is their job. This enables them to attend to other activities, such as school and homework,” said Byanyima
She also thanked farmers for embracing the use of biogas for cooking instead of firewood which she says will help save money and the destruction of forests.
Byanyima underscored the importance of bio gas in proper waste management, reduction of carbon emission as well as improving sanitation.
The chairperson LC 111 of Masha sub-county, Rwasiima Norman thanked Rotary Club for uplifting the lives of women in the district pledging to support the group.
“I commend Rotary for choosing Isingiro regarding this project. The lives of women have changed. I am committing myself to bringing a sub-county veterinary officer to help you treat your livestock”. Said Norman.
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editor@independent.co.ug
