The Deputy Chief Coordinator of Operation Wealth Creation Lt. Gen. Charles Angina has urged Farmers to prepare for the coming season despite all the challenges incurred last season including the fall of army worm and drought.
‘’We need to come out with financing strategy to ensure that farmers can be able to secure funds with less interest rate for procurement of herbicides, and fertilizers ’’ Angina said while updating media about the overview of last financial year at Uganda Media Centre.
The government is focusing on building sustainable financing models, upon which NAADS / Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) will be able to work with the relevant private sector partners for transformation of Uganda to a middle status income by 2020.
Angina said the Minister of Finance Planning and Economic Development, Matia Kasaija allocated Shs863.4 billion to the Ministry of Agriculture of which Shs297.6 billion given to Operation Wealth Creation for procumbent of seeds, seedlings and other planting material in this financial 2017/2018.
Further allocated Shs39.6 billon to Operation Wealth Creation for recruiting of extension works at all levels including Parishes and Sub-Counties to overcome the procurement of seeds which in turn fails to germinate.
‘’We cannot take seed from any seed company before testing the germination process, last time we tested it’’ Angina further noted.
Last year Operation Wealth Creation gave out four million seedlings of cocoa, 4,000 hybrid heifers with a motive of boosting livestock industry, 1.1 million banana tissues, and 2,000 bags of ginger in Buganda among others.
In line with the transformation of Uganda’s agricultural system, more tractors are to be issued out in this financial year for the promotion of mechanized farming and revitalizing farmer groups.
