What you missed at Farm Clinic

Farmers view some of the livestock bred at Bulindi ZARDI during the Seeds of Gold Farm Clinic held in Hoima. Photo by Francis Mugerwa

What you need to know:

  • CNOOC officials laboured to explain to the attendants the criteria and standards required to vend their produce to the company for staff consumption.
  • Director General National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO), Dr Ambrose Agona stressed the importance of farmers taking interest in enhancing their knowledge rather than practicing without information.
    The other sponsor Bank of Uganda educated the farmers on how to access agricultural initiatives.

The farmers shared their experiences with fellow farmers and professionals in the event sponsored by Bank of Uganda and CNOOC, writes Denis Bbosa.

The hunger for agricultural knowledge was evident right from the cross generation audience at Bulindi - ZARDI in Hoima District to the spot on questions asked after the practical lessons.
Yes, being its first occasion, it started a bit late - midday - as some participants went direct to the exhibition stalls and demonstration tents.

Still when it teed off, nothing could distract the farmers’ attention as Bulindi - ZARDI facilitators selflessly gave their all in passing on the agribusiness information.
On a bright sunny morning, farmers - young and old - trekked in from the districts of Buliisa, Masindi, Hoima, Kibaale, Kiryandongo, Kigumba and as far as Lira.
Primary and secondary school students, clad in their uniforms also made their presence felt - shading a picture that may be Uganda’s agriculture future is headed for great strides.

Apiary wins the day
A sizeable group of active and prospective beekeeping farmers from the Albertine region wanted to know how they can handsomely benefit from the marketable enterprise amidst the challenges.
Lydia Kabasomi, an apiculture technician at the institute, assisted by two facilitators, laboured to explain the dos and don’ts of productive apiary mostly engaging farmers in the Runyoro dialect that they seemed conversant with.

The farmers’ appetite rose when the byproducts - packed honey, propolis, bee venom, lip balms, bee wax and bee candles - of apiary production value addition were highlighted.
“The immediate feedback we got indicates that most farmers were interested in apiary and then banana and piggery,” MPL branding manager Elizabeth Namaganda revealed.
That said, there was a crave for the other enterprises; maize, rice, cassava, fish and cattle.

Farmers’ lives transformed
Bulindi - ZARDI administrators organised the expansive farm in such

a conducive way that allowed participants to ably rotate around all the learning centres in an instant.
“It was a big success and more. From the facilitators, participants, sponsors and exhibitors to the organisers, no one can wait for the next farm clinic in Hoima,” Namaganda stressed.
She added; “the farmers acknowledged that they have ready market near them, the beneficial relationship between agribusiness and oil industry was well elaborated whereas the sponsors and Bulindi ZARDI officials were grateful to the farm clinic for taking them closer to the farmers.”
More than 2000 participants thronged Bulindi for the event while 20 exhibitors showcased and gave farming tips to the farmers.
The Bulindi ZARDI session also gave room for farmers to explore new agribusiness machines like hand tractors.

Job opportunities unearthed
“We call upon farmers to prepare themselves to tap opportunities in the oil and gas sector. The farmers should embrace the required standards and quality produce to supply the oil and gas camps, especially during the oil production period,” CNOOC publicist Aminah Bukenya told the elated participants.

Bulindi ZARDI director, Dr Sylvester Baguma advised the Albertine farmers not to lose out on the 600 agribusiness job opportunities from the booming oil sector that awaited them.
“The oil sector in Bunyoro has 600 supply opportunities but so far we have managed to have only 19. The Farm Clinic has come to awaken farmers to go back to the gardens and grow food, rare pigs and fish to meet the demands,” he said.
CNOOC officials laboured to explain to the attendants the criteria and standards required to vend their produce to the company for staff consumption.

Director General National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO), Dr Ambrose Agona stressed the importance of farmers taking interest in enhancing their knowledge rather than practicing without information.
The other sponsor Bank of Uganda educated the farmers on how to access agricultural initiatives.

Farm clinic
Bulindi Zonal Agricultural Research Development Institute (BulindiZARDI) in Hoima District
Enterprises
Bananas, Maize,
Rice, Cassava,
Piggery, Fish,
Apiary, Livestock