During a brief function held on Monday morning, Frank Tumwebaze, the minister for Agriculture Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) dispatched 200 motorcycles worth shs2b to extension workers in 77 districts and 6 cities.
While handing over the motorcycles on Monday morning, the MAAIF minister said, the bikes will go a long way in assisting extension workers to sensitise and monitor farmers across the country.
He further intimated that the agriculture ministry will be setting aside some money every financial year, to buy equipment such as motorcycles and vehicles for extension workers. “This business of officials spending money in seminars and workshops should not be prioritised over physical deliverables such as agriculture equipment,” Tumwebaze urged.
According to minister Tumwebaze, the finance ministry also restored the extension grant part of which will be used to service and fuel the donated motorbikes.
Deus Muhwezi, the director for extension services in MAAIF said the primary responsibility of extension workers is to move, reach and teach the farmers. “This has been a great challenge for the extension farmers especially given the rugged terrain and long distances to different farms and gardens,” stated Muhwezi.
He expressed optimism that the motorcycles and deliberate arrangement to procure more, will help to support the implementation of parish development model. “The choice of 77 districts and 6 cities was based on the food security situation where the selected local governments were hit harder by the long dry spell before the current rains,” he explained.
The programme is expected to be carried on, every financial year until each subcounty in Uganda will be accorded at least one motorcycle for agriculture purposes. Some of the districts that benefited from the first batch include Abim, Adjumani, Agago, Aleptong, Amuria, Bugiri, Buhweju, Bukedea, Buikwe, Bukwo, Bulambuli, Bundibujo, Bushenyi, Busia and Butaleja. Others include Dokolo, Ibanda, Iganga, Isingiro, Jinja, Kabarole, Kagadi and Kalangala plus several others.
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