The Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries (MAAIF) has presented a significant agricultural aid to the West Nile sub-region, consisting of 13 tractors and over 150 hand-held tractors and agricultural implements. The initiative, part of a broader effort, aims to enhance agricultural mechanization and promote commercial farming in West Nile, Lango, and Acholi sub-regions.
The donated hand-held tractors, 326 in total, include 16 HorsePower (HP) single axle units and 28 units with 75 HorsePower (HP). These tractors will be strategically distributed, with one hand-held tractor allocated per sub-county. Each tractor will be managed by a selected Savings and Credit Cooperative Society (SACCO) to ensure efficient community-wide use.
The official handover ceremony, held at Namalere Agricultural Referral Mechanization Centre, saw the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Nobert Mao, representing President Yoweri Museveni. Mao emphasized the importance of ensuring value for money in the implementation of this agricultural support.
Frank Tumwebaze, the Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries, highlighted the focus on smallholder farmers, particularly those organized into farmer groups. The tractors aim to increase production and enhance food security in the targeted sub-regions.
Denis Hamson Obua, the Government Chief Whip, expressed confidence that the tractors will play a crucial role in facilitating the implementation of the Parish Development Model (PDM) program. This government initiative seeks to uplift approximately 3.5 million households in Uganda out of poverty by transitioning them from subsistence to a money economy.
Joanne Aniku Okia, the Vice Chairperson of the West Nile Parliamentary Caucus, shared that they received twelve ‘walking tractors’ and resolved to allocate the large tractor to Offaka Sacco in Offaka Sub County.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries, the hand-held tractors have the capacity to plough three acres of land using three liters of fuel per day and can also be used for water pumping in irrigation processes.
