Tractors lying idle in Madi Okollo

Madi Okollo, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT |  Twelve hand-held walking tractors are currently idle in Madi Okollo district due to the lack of disc ploughs. These single-axle 16-horsepower (HP) tractors were donated by the Government through the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) last year to scale up agricultural mechanization and improve commercial farming.

Despite being distributed to all nine sub-counties and three town councils in Madi Okollo district three months ago, the tractors remain unused. Some are abandoned on the compounds of beneficiary administrative units, while others are stored inside sub-county council halls, even as the first planting season commences.

Benard Leku, the councilor for Rhino Camp sub-county, revealed that tractors allocated to Ewanga sub-county and Inde Town council have remained uncollected at the district headquarters since December last year. He expressed concerns that if not operationalized, these tractors could end up being wasted like farm implements supplied under the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) program.

Teddy Adroko, the female Youth councilor, highlighted that most of the walking tractors are parked at sub-county headquarters, dampening the hopes of farmers who had prepared large acreages of land in anticipation of ploughing using these tractors.

Scovia Achan, the female councilor representing Pawor Sub-county, lamented that the idle tractors are hindering farmers’ efforts to adopt commercial agriculture.

Denis Feta, the councilor for Okollo Town Council, questioned why the district leaders accepted the walking tractors without the necessary disc ploughs. He expressed concern that the tractors risk developing mechanical problems due to exposure to harsh environmental conditions.

Madi Okollo district chairperson, Ismail Drabe Adirisi, attributed the situation to the government’s delivery of incomplete walking tractors without the necessary disc ploughs. He pledged to follow up on the matter with MAAIF.

In December 2023, the government donated over 300 hand-held single axle 16 HorsePower (HP) tractors and 28 units of 75 HorsePower (HP) tractors to West Nile, Lango, and Acholi sub-regions to enhance agricultural mechanization.

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