Sponsors urge farmers ahead of farm clinic

aBi CEO Andre Dellevoet (C) speaks to media at the launch of the farm clinic on Wednesday and Daily Monitor offices, looking on (L) are Tony Glencross, MD, Monitor Publications Ltd, (R) Dr Stephen Lwasa from MUARIK and Benon Rukundo from Post Bank. PHOTO BY ERIC DOMINIC BUKENYA

What you need to know:

  • Sponsors who will be partnering with Daily Monitor reiterated the call for farmers to attend the seventh edition of the Monitor Farm Clinic scheduled for August 26 at Makerere University agricultural Research Institute Kabanyolo (MUARIK), writes Denis Bbosa.

Agriculture in its best form is practical. Basing on such a background, for the last five years, the Seeds of Gold farm clinic has been creating a platform for farmers and those interested in agriculture to widen their knowledge through engaging experts practically.
Next weekend, the central region farm clinic that opens at Makerere University Agricultural Research Institute, Kabanyolo will yet again present another opportunity for farmers to learn the agronomy of enterprises such as piggery, diary, passion fruits, bananas and coffee.
Set on the theme, Climate Smart Farming, the participants will have a chance to view practical lessons, listen to talks and also interact with exhibitors of different farm related products.
Most critical also will be how farmers can earn more from their enterprises, how to access better credit facilities among other challenges in farming. Partners aBi which promotes private sector agribusiness development will enlighten on agri business.

aBi all set
Agricultural Business Initiative (aBi) Group took the bold and wise business move to join hands with the rotational Monitor Farm Clinics according CEO Andre Dellevoet.
He says by elevating the production of agricultural components of dairy, piggery, bananas and passion fruits, Monitor Publications Limited (MPL) is portraying that it understands that agriculture is a key sector in the development of the country.
“As a media company it has played a major role with lessons from the farm clinics they have held since last year,” he said.
Having greatly benefited from the Mbarara Monitor Farm Clinic, aBi wants to continue its profitable relationship with Seeds of Gold.
“We definitely want to keep on supporting the farm clinic events because it is a channel of communication to wider public.
“Why not continue yet we have successful stories of farmers who participated in last year’s clinics? Our company has changed the livelihood of many farmers. And we are not about to stop,” he reveals.
He says they have gone big on poultry because almost every farmer starts with it, can cope well with the challenges like diseases that come along and is beneficial and marketable.

Loans to boost farming
Post Bank Senior Credit Manager Benon Rukundo, has expressed their willingness to equip participants with knowledge on how they can access financing in agriculture.
“We realised the importance of agriculture and that is why we rank it as one of the key value chain financing.
“We extend loans in machinery acquisition, transporting of agriculture produce, ware housing construction and our portfolio is about 33 of agriculture which reflects our commitment,” Rukundo said.

UCDA joins growing list of sponsors
Apart from partners; aBi, Heifer International, Post Bank and MUARIK, Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) has joined the winning team.
“ Better late than never, UCDA, mandated for liberalisation, propagation, marketing and consumption of coffee in Uganda, we want to mobilize farmers through teaching about coffee called golden seed that is most traded after oil in the world. We are committed to moving together with the Farm Clinic and extending technical skills to farmers,” UCDA acting director development service Apollo Kamugisha confirmed.

Dr Lwasa optimistic
To Dr Stephen Lwasa of Makerere University agricultural Research Institute Kabanyolo (MUARIK) who will be hosting the farm clinic at Kabanyolo, a lot of the prevailing challenges will be addressed.
“There has been the fall army worm that has been attacking cereals mainly maize but we as experts are still consulting for remedy.
“We hadn’t prepared for it because we have been used to the African army worm but working with Ministry officials, we are going to train participating farmers on how to handle such epidemics,” he said.

Quality seeds
According to Dr Lwasa, you cannot train farmers minus talking about seeds. “There is a challenge of seeds quality control but the good news is that the ministry has a strategy to help the farmers improve seed qualities,” he added.
“We must train agribusiness farmers on how to get high yields from their production.”