Farm Clinic set to break new ground in Bunyoro
A dairy expert responds to farmer’s queries at MBAZARDI. Photo by Denis Bbosa
What you need to know:
- Talk of Hoima or Bunyoro at large, and the prospect of a burgeoning oil region pops up immediately. There was life before oil and there will be life after it. The primary reason the next Seeds of Gold Farm Clinic heads to Bunyoro in July is to preach the balanced coexistence of oil and farming, writes Denis Bbosa.
The wait is over. Bunyoro farmers, just like the Ankole farmers who are still feeding on the endless tangible benefits from the recently concluded Farm Clinic at MBAZARDI in Mbarara District, will have the first time opportunity to learn farming on July 14.
Bulindi Zonal Agricultural Research Development Institute (Bulindi ZARDI) in Hoima District will host the first ever farming event. NARO, the apex body for guidance and coordination of all agricultural research activities in the national agricultural research system in Uganda has agreed to provide a minimum of eight facilitators who shall be responsible for training the participants.
They will also ensure that the venue dairy unit and the various crop demonstration sites are ready for the envisaged purpose before the main day event according to Daily Monitor brand manager Elizabeth Namaganda.
“We want to give back to Bunyoro farmers who have greatly contributed to agribusiness in Uganda. There is a lot of potential in Bunyoro and we want to tell them that farming can grow alongside the oil industry,” Namaganda reveals.
She adds; “Farmers should carry on with farming the various crops even when tempted by the allure of the lucrative oil industry.”
Climate smart farming
The farm clinics in Mbarara, Wakiso and Soroti districts have hinged around climate smart farming which will still be the case in Bulindi ZARDI. “Being an oil region their environment is bound to suffer greatly if they don’t adapt to climate smart farming,” Namaganda stressed.
“Bunyoro farmers should look out for new farming trends and practical sessions,” she adds.
Namaganda adds that they chose the enterprises; bananas, maize, rice, cassava, piggery, fish, apiary (honey, wax &venom) and cattle (beef & diary) basing on research carried out in Bunyoro sub region. Considered one of the most fast money minting venture, piggery returns after missioning on the menu in MBAZARDI alongside the fast-rising apiary.
“Every Farm Clinic brings learning opportunities. It has been long overdue that the farmers in Hoima, Kabarole and Masindi can also tap into this agribusiness enlightenment,” says Seeds of Gold Magazine Editor Charles Tabu.
Enterprises: Bananas, maize, rice, cassava, piggery, fish, apiary (honey, wax venom) and cattle (for beef and dairy).
