Oyam district leaders sensitized on climate smart agricultural transformation project

Oyam, (UG):- The district leaders and technocrats of Oyam District in northern Uganda have been sensitized on the implementation of the Uganda Climate Smart Agricultural Transformation Project (UCSATP).

The six-year project supported by the World Bank is expected to be implemented in 69 districts. The Project’s total funding is 354.7 Million US dollars of which 350 Million US dollars is a Loan from the World Bank and 4.7 Million US dollars is counterpart -funding from the Government of Uganda.

In the Lango sub-region, the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) has kick-started the Implementation and rolling out of UCSATP in Apac, Oyam, Amolatar, Dokolo, Alebtong and Otuke districts.

During a two-day sensitization workshop held at Oyam District Council Hall, district leaders and technocrats were briefed on the various components and objectives of the UCSATP which is designed to raise a climate-smart approach to agriculture.

Kizito Odongo, the acting principal agriculture officer with MAAIF and a team leader for the Lango sub-region, said UCSATP aims to enhance agricultural productivity, improve market access, build resilience in select value chains, and provide rapid responses to emergencies and crises.

“The project’s main objective is to increase productivity, market access, and resilience of the value chains, and also to respond to eligible crises promptly when they occur. We are looking at increasing the productivity of value chains, including crop, livestock, fish, and beneficial insects like beekeeping or apiary production and black soldier fly,” Odongo said

Odongo, in his deliberation, put emphasis on the importance of using quality seeds from research to boost productivity, adopting climate-smart technologies and the need for effective community involvement and awareness to ensure the project’s success.

He also outlined that the selection criteria for the beneficiary groups is that they have been in existence for at least six months and actively participating in the specified value chains.

During the engagement, the district leaders asked the ministry to add coffee, Chusunut and Hass avocado to mangoes and citrus which was put as the main enterprise to be implemented in the district since Citrus farming is not suitable for the district.

Robert Ekwaro, the LC3 chairperson of Loro Town Council said “My experience with Citrus farming and mangoes is bad. The crops have always been attacked by rare maggots which makes them rot despite spraying. These two crops most farmers will reject because experience shows that no tangible result can be realised from it,” Ekwaro said.

Oyam district Project focal person Dr. Ronald Were said farmers should co-fund what they are able to afford. “You co-fund towards what you can afford, this co-fund is just 20% but the government is giving you 80%, which is the biggest part. So if for example, if you are going to take something maybe for one million, can’t you raise the 200,000?” Were wondered.

Philips Ogile, the Abok sub-county LC3 chairperson, applauded the government for the Uganda Climatic Smart Agricultural Transformation Project which he believed is going to benefit farmers who want to prosper.

“Putting in co-funding in UCSATP will reduce neglect and wastage of the projects,” he said. “The government takes up 80 per cent and then the beneficiaries also contribute 20 per cent. Meaning Wastage of the project is not going to be there, that approach is very good because you cannot give to somebody who doesn’t want and we should now encourage demand-driven projects. I think sustainability and maintenance can also be there,” Ogile said.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, district chairperson Benson Dila, thanked all stakeholders for taking up this project and appealed to the Ministry of Agriculture to avoid high-breed contracts, where one contractor is given contracts in many districts and a project stalls.

“We were briefed that the contracting of this project will be done at a district. Let me believe that what you presented is what will now move down to be the same. We want you to avoid the aspect of high-breed contracts, we are not segregating, but some of them come here for profit maximization. So we need you to support our local contractors so that they also grow and develop to higher heights,” Dila warned.

Dila also urged Leaders and technocrats who were well-equipped to support the successful implementation of the UCSATP.

“Let’s do our best and have the right people in the right projects, where most projects are really produced in that particular place. So that at the end of the day, life is transformed,” Dila said.