Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Sugarcane farmers in Busoga sub region are optimistic of reaping big from cane juice compared to selling their harvest as raw material. Some of the farmers interviewed during a two day’s training program on cane juice production at Kamuli district headquarters on Friday, said …
Read More »Sugar cane zoning no longer relevant-Museveni
Jinja, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Zoning for sugar mills has outlived its importance to the economy due to the surplus cane, according to President, Yoweri Museveni. He said this while addressing cane farmers at Bugembe stadium in Jinja district on Wednesday. Under the old sugar policy, no sugar factory would …
Read More »130 drought affected farmers benefit from crop insurance
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | About 130 farmers in Lango sub region who lost their crops and recorded poor harvest in the first season of 2019 have been compensated. The crops were affected by inconsistent rains and prolonged drought between the months of March and June. The affected farmers …
Read More »Wakiso farmers irrigate crops in rain season, count loses
Wakiso, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | A group of farmers under Magezi-Muliro Farmers’ Association, which received the pilot demonstration mini irrigation scheme in Mabwombe Village in Mende Sub County in Wakiso District, are crying foul after losing their crops to heavy rains. Although irrigation is practiced during the dry season, URN …
Read More »Troubled waters for Egypt as Ethiopia pushes Nile dam
Cairo, Egypt | AFP | Under the shade of a tree, Mohamed Omar joined other farmers bickering over who would water their crops first as supply from the Nile to a nearby canal dwindled. “My plot has been thirsty for days. I need the water to nourish the soil before it …
Read More »Malawi tobacco pressured as US butts in over labour abuses
Blantyre, Malawi | AFP | Malawi is being forced to confront child and forced labour practices after the US restricted tobacco imports from the impoverished southeastern African nation over allegations workers including children were being exploited. Although exports to the United States make up only a small part of Malawi’s total, …
Read More »Now, NAADS suspends distribution of tractors to farmers
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) has suspended the distribution of more than 240 tractors to farmer groups around the country. The tractors were procured under the second priority area of the 2016 – 2020 Agriculture Sector Strategic Development Plan for mechanization of Agriculture. …
Read More »South Sudan officials extort UGX 5M from Ugandan farmers
Lamwo, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | South Sudan officials have extorted up to Shillings 5.7 million from Ugandan farmers in Lamwo district to access their farmland since July this year, an investigation by security has revealed. The investigations show that 35 farmers from the district fell victim of extortion to access …
Read More »Sugarcane out growers sruggle to acquire selling permits from SCOUL
Kayunga, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | More than 300 out-growers in Kayunga district are stuck with their canes after failing to acquire selling and transportation permits from the Sugar Corporation of Uganda Limited-SCOUL. SCOUL introduced the system of giving out loans to farmers who wanted to start growing sugarcane in 2001 …
Read More »Madagascar paddy farmers rise up against ‘new city’
Antananarivo, Madagascar | AFP | Anger is boiling over in the hills surrounding Antananarivo over plans to relocate part of Madagascar’s choked capital to emerald-green farmland. Hundreds of farmers in Ambohitrimanjaka village are facing off with the authorities over a presidential scheme that threatens to engulf a thousand hectares (2,500 acres) …
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