Farmers hopeful as Kabarole starts agro industrial park

Tour. Officials from National Agricultural Research Organisation and the World Bank inspect cassava gardens at Rwibaale Village in Kyenjojo District in November last year. PHOTO BY ALEX ASHABA

What you need to know:

  • The park will be funded by government and farmers. It will be housing different processing plants for animal feeds, dairy, millings, banana, Cocoa among others.
  • Individuals over the years have been running small scale industries for value addition such as making wine from banana, wax from cassava among others.

Kabarole. Kabarole District has finalised plans to establish an agro industrial park with the aim of improving value addition on farmers’ products.
Recently, Kabarole District Council okayed the commencement of the feasibility study and construction of the park on 100 acres of land at Kyembogo in Busoro Sub-county.

“In line with the local economic development agenda which is the sixth pillar of our decentralisation policy, I take this opportunity to present and propose to this council a motion for the adoption of the agriculture and tourism sector,” the district chairman, Mr Richard Rwabuhinga, moved a motion in the council last week.

The process will involve the undertaking of feasibility study that is currently ongoing up to November, the establishment of agro logistic hub and loading bay among others.
The feasibility study will cost Shs185 million to be paid by Kabarole District local government. It will involve studying the cost benefit of the electricity extension, mechanisation, effectiveness of marketing facilities, and Social economic and environmental impact assessment among others.

Farmers under Rwibaale Farmers Marketing Cooperative Society in Kyenjojo District are optimistic that the park will provide market for their products since over the years they have been struggling with selling them.
The cooperative society has 108 members that grow cassava on large scale and do value addition for exportation on small scale.
Mr Hamis Katende, the coordinator-in-charge of marketing, said since the start of the cooperative in 2014, they have been challenged by market. They say the value addition on cassava tubers into wax was initiated to avoid losses because waxed cassava lasts for 60 days.

“We are actually eagerly waiting for it (agro industrial park) because we hope to benefit us as we shall be able to supply our products hopping for the ready market,” Mr Katende said.
Mr Ronald Kibuka from Operation Wealth Creation said the park will be adding value to different crops such as banana, avocado, potatoes and maize where there will be more employment opportunities and increase local revenue for the district.