WAKISO – The Ministry of Agriculture has concluded preparations for the commissioning of Earth-Moving Equipment, 1061 motorcycles and 126 vehicles for agricultural extension workers and 114 tractors for farmer cooperatives across all regions of the country.
The move is under the theme “Driving Agricultural Transformation through Enhanced Extension Services and Mechanization for Commercial and Small Holder Farmers in Uganda.”
The commissioning will be officially done by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on Thursday, March 7 at the Agricultural Engineering and Appropriate Technology Research Institute, Namalere (AEATRI) in Wakiso District.
This was revealed by the Minister for Agriculture Vincent Bamulangaki Ssempijja in a Wednesday, February 27 meeting at the Institute.
He added that district representatives will also receive the vehicles, motorcycles, earth-moving equipment and tractors on the same day.
Mr. Ssempijja said that this step is in line with the Mission of the ministry which is “To transform subsistence farming into commercial agriculture”.
It is also under the vision “A Competitive, Profitable and Sustainable Agricultural Sector” through addressing the challenge of lack of efficient transport means for Extension Officers whose work is to guide farmers, teach best practices of Agriculture and link farmers to key initiatives.
However, the same will increase availability and access to machinery for farmers organized in cooperatives.
