KIKUUBE, UGANDA: Peter Banura the Kikuube District LC5 Chairperson has urged farmers to form groups in order to gain in various government developmental programs.
According to Mr Banura, the formulation of farmers’ groups will help have a collective voice to lobby for government financial support and gain collective bargaining power.
He made the remarks while presiding over as the guest of honour for the official launch of the Buhimba Livestock Farmers Group at Buhimba town council Hall in Kikuube District.
“This group should act as a lesson to other farmers in Kikuube District to form groups for mutual benefits in terms of technology sharing as well as collective bargaining and government financial support”. Mr. Banura said.
Mr Banura told the farmers that the NRM government is solely targeting well-organized groups to finance through its developmental projects like DPM, Emyooga Saccos, Youth Livelihood, and UWEP among others.
Meanwhile, Stephen Aseera Itaza the Buhaguzi East Constituency Member of parliament challenged farmers to embrace value addition in their farm products.
The Buhaguzi East legislator says with current Ugandan technology every animal/crop product can be useful.
“President Museveni is encouraging us to make value addition to our products for instance goat wastes can be used as organic manure and can also produce gas through bio- digest which can be used for cooking and light services and even the goat and rabbit urine is on high demand in Kampala for making pesticides”. Hon. Aseera said.
Mr Aseera thanked members of the Burial Livestock Farmers Group for choosing a good idea through forming a group and also urged them to register it as a Sacco and challenged Kikuube District leaders to stop political wrangles and focus on service delivery to the people.
Susan Kabasindi, the Buhimba town council woman councillor urged group members to be trustworthy so as to avoid misunderstandings among members.
Meanwhile, Lawrence Bigirwa Kasangaki the Patron of Buhimba Livestock Farmers Group who also doubles as the Male councillor for Buhimba town council said so far their group is having 21 members across Bunyoro Region dealing Goat and Cattle rearing.
Kasangaki said despite their group formulation they are finding challenges of high livestock theft where many farmers end up losing their animals to thieves.
“We have many challenges as a group such as lack of modern equipment and advancement in animal rearing, rampant livestock theft, poor animal breeds among others,” Kasangaki said.
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