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Kasese, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Three tractors have been handed over to selected farmer groups in Kasese District to boost their commercial production. The tractors were delivered to the groups by a team from the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) at a function held at the district headquarters in Rukoki on Friday.
The three groups are Basaija Kweyimukya Cooperative from Mubuku, Bigando Agricultural Cooperative Society from Kitswamba sub-county and Hima Barracks Women’s group from Hima. The farmers will contribute 20 per cent of the unit cost of each tractor valued at 80 million Shillings.
Julius Baluku, a staff attached to the production department of Kasese District said the tractors are meant to help farmers engage in large scale production. He noted that for long, farmers in the district were unable to catch up with seasons because of the rudimentary farming methods they use.
He said the groups had been trained on handling and believe they will change their livelihoods and improve their production capacity.
Ntabose Gideon Sanyu, the Kasese district vice-chairperson said the beneficiary farmer groups were selected after rigorous vetting and were found to be capable of marinating the tractors. Ntabose said the district expects more mechanical support from the government.
However, he says the “yields” from the three tractors will be a benchmark from which government will take its decision to add more to the district or not.
Mulimba Semu, a member of Bigando cooperative told the Kasese based URN reporter that he expects the tractor to ease their farming load and in turn, improve their productivity.
Kasese Resident District Commissioner Lt. Joe Walusimbi who officially handed over the tractors to the groups challenged the beneficiaries to use the tractors only for their intended purposes.
The tractors which are being distributed nationwide were procured under the second priority area of the 2016 – 2020 Agriculture Sector Strategic Development Plan for mechanization of Agriculture.
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