Use organic fertilizers to improve soil fertility – Minister Kyakulaga tells Iganga residents

Iganga, (UG):- The Minister of State for Agriculture, Hon. Bwino Fred Kyakulaga has urged the people of Iganga to use organic fertilizers and counter the challenge of soils which have lost fertility as a result of using them continuously for years without servicing them.

Hon Minister Kyakulaga says that people may not necessarily use artificial fertilizers from the agricultural shops but they can opt to use organic fertilizers from animal wastes stressing the need to service the land each time it loses fertility.

Hon Kyakulaga, who is also the Member of Parliament for Kigulu North constituency, was on Saturday, April 27, 2024, addressing people at the belated International Women’s Day celebration for Iganga district at Buzaya Primary School, Kyendabawala parish, Nawandala Sub County in Iganga district.

“Soils have lost fertility, especially in Busoga because we have used it over and over again without servicing it. Land is like a vehicle which you cannot just drive without servicing it, so we need to renew its fertility by using fertilizers. I call upon you to use animal wastes like cow dung as fertilizers because you may not be having money to buy fertilizers but you can but if you have the money,” Minister Kyakulaga said.

The Minister together with the Woman Member of Parliament for Iganga Hon. Kauma Sauda Alibaawo donated Shs4m to construct an office for Buzaya primary school and a water harvesting tank as a contribution to hosting the function at the school and also said they will be leaving a mark wherever a Women’s day will be hosted.

Hon. Kyakulaga urged women to engage in income-generating activities for low-income earners and also pledged to support women with hoes potato leaves in growing potatoes as a raw material for the factory which is being established in Kigulu North purposely to produce bread out of it.

At the function where women exhibited a number of hand works, the Woman MP Hon Alibaawo urged women to report any cases of domestic violence since the government has since emphasized gender equality in various sectors. She pledged her efforts to support women’s groups and also empower them in income-generating activities such that they can support their families.

“Whenever we have these functions, we tell women about their freedom and organizations and police are in place to advocate for women’s rights, so kindly report cases of domestic violence. We also emphasize that you are involved in income generating activities such that you can support your husbands at home with a number of needs and this will help to fight cases of domestic violence,” Hon. Alibaawo said before advising people to behave in a manner that controls the spread of red eye disease.

The celebrations started with different games including bicycle racing and the woman Member of Parliament Hon Alibaawo donated Gomes and other items to the participants.

The chairperson Iganga Women’s Council, Ms Mudondo Madina commended the district and their Member of Parliament for supporting them in preparation for the function. She however asked the MPs to lobby some support for women leaders to earn something citing that a number of them have tried to minimize domestic violence in homes as they have always resolved such matters.

They also beseeched the government of Uganda through their leaders to consider them with any means of transport to facilitate their swiftness in reaching out to women for economic mobilization of fellow women and other related activities.