Farm clinic draws record attendance
Participants receive copies of Saturday Monitor with a pullout of Seeds of Gold magazine at the 9th Monitor Farm Clinic in Mbarara District at the weekend. PHOTO BY FELIX AINEBYOONA
Kampala- Ugandan farming is on the rise again if the number of farmers that swarmed Mbarara Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MBAZARDI) in Mbarara District on Saturday for the ninth Seeds of Gold Farm Clinic is anything to go by.
The numbers more than doubled from last year’s attendance, according to Monitor Publications Ltd brand manager Elizabeth Namaganda.
“The numbers have shocked us. By 10:30am, all the first 900 seats had already been taken up,” Ms Namaganda said.
Yet the numbers continued to swell up to midday as workers from all walks of life turned up on a sunny morning to learn about farming and increase their productivity.
“Farmers from as far as Lira, Sebei, Mbale and Kampala districts thronged in early to tap agribusiness knowledge. Those who missed still have a chance to see and learn next Saturday as NTV replays the entire session,” Ms Namaganda said.
Sponsors Heifer, aBi, Bank of Uganda and exhibitors such as NSSF, Agricultural Credit Facility, EASEED and many others displayed farming inputs.
After introduction sessions and sipping free milk, farmers armed with notebooks and questions, descended to the various learning venues.
“You have come with an open mind to learn you will go back as experts. Before you call a doctor to look at your sick cow, you have to have techniques of giving out first aid,” Dr Ambrose Agona, the director general of National Agricultural Research Organisation, advised the farmers.
