LUUKA —Government, through National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) has given out 26 tractors to selected farmer groups and associations in the Busoga region to boost commercial farming in the area.
The Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga handed over the tractors to the different farmer groups on Friday 22, November, 2019 at the Luuka District headquarters.
Kadaga asked the farmers to properly utilize the tractors for agricultural use in order to boost commercial agriculture and alleviate poverty.
“I do not want to see or hear that the tractors are being used to ferry people back and forth or transport merchandise because that will defeat the purpose of the struggle we as leaders have gone through to secure them,” she added.
The Speaker further commended the Minister for Presidency and Luuka District Woman MP, Esther Mbayo for effort in lobbying for Busoga Region to receive tractors.
Minister Mbayo urged the groups to appropriately utilize these tractors for their own development adding that, “it was no walk in the park getting them”.
“Please take care of these tractors so that they can serve and help you grow in your respective groups; we want to see a boost in agriculture,” she added.
The Minister listed the following beneficiary groups as; Bugiri District Farmers Association, Bugweri Commercial Farmers Cooperative Society Limited, Kiwemba Farmers Cooperative Society, Buwende Butagaya Cooperative Society, Kamuli District Farmers Association, Nawanyago Technical Institute among others.
The Speaker asked the groups to utilize the Kasolwe Stock Farm in Kamuli which is currently being rehabilitated to acquire training on better farming practices and better animal and plant variations.
In separate events, the Speaker officiated over the 27 year celebrations of Luubu Twezimbe Group of the Blind in Mayuge District. She promised to lobby the President for a special program to support activities for people with disabilities.
She also launched the Luuka District Boda Boda SACCO that the President donated UGX24m to.
