Hundreds attend Monitor farm clinic in Mbarara

MBARARA.

Over 1,000 farmers from South western region have flocked Mbarara Zonal Agricultural and Research Development Institute

(MBAZARDI) to attend the ninth Daily Monitor Farm Clinic.

They were addressed by Director General National Agriculture and Research Organization (NARO) Dr Ambrose Agona, Dr Imelda Kashaija, the deputy director NARO, Prof. Johnson Nkuhe, Chairman Advisory Committee MAZARDI and Dr Harid Kirunda, the director MBAZARDI.

The farmers during group sessions interacted with scientists and experts in dairy, bananas, beans, maize, passion fruits, mangoes, fish and cassava enterprise who gave them theoretical practical lessons from the fields at the institute.

Dr Agona asked farmers to take advantage of the clinic to acquire knowledge and treat their enterprises for economic improvement and improved food security for the fast growing population in the country.

“We want to see changes in farming systems. We are talking about feeding a fastest growing population. When these agriculture enterprises are sick you are also sick nutritionally and economically,” said Dr Agona.

He further asked farmers to keep records of the techniques acquired and the resultant improvements in their farming.

Dr Kashaija hailed Monitor Publications Limited for the farm clinic initiative, and the farmers for turning in big numbers saying it portrays shift in their mindset.

“We used to organize agriculture workshops but many farmers would refuse to attend. They would ask for facilitation to come and learn. But if we pay you to learn then you will not take learning serious. We want a farmer to put in his or her money and time to come and meet experts. Let’s change the mindset; we can’t give you knowledge and pay you for learning,” she added.

Dr Nkuhe asked farmers to use the opportunity to get solutions for the drying up passion fruits, persistent Banana Bacterial Wilt and acaricide resistant ticks.

Mr Asaph Muhangi who represented LC5 Chairman Mbarara Capt. Tumusiime Bamuturaki said this was a unique opportunity for farmers.

“I am convinced this is a clinic. I have moved around and I have seen all the solutions farmers need,” said Mr Muhangi.

Ms Sarah Nalule, the head of marketing NMG hailed the sponsors Bank of Uganda, Agri Business Initiative, and Heifer International for supporting the farm clinic. 

Ms Rosette Bamwine, head Credit Analysis and Marketing Agriculture Credit Facility Bank of Uganda challenged farmers to shift from subsistence to commercial farming.

She said Bank of Uganda is offering loans at very low interest rates maximum 12 percent per annum to enable farmers commercialize. “There is limited use of tractors and machinery in farming. Move away from farming for home consumption to commercial farming and chase away poverty,” he said.

Over 20 companies and organizations exhibited at the event.

Participants came from districts of Mbarara, Ibanda, Kiruhura, Bushenyi, Sheema, Isingiro, Mitooma, Ntungamo, Rukungiri, Mbale, Buhweju, Rubirizi and Kamwenge among other districts.