Catholic Church tips government on new farming model

NAKASEKE. Kasana-Luweero Catholic Diocese under its development organisation, Caritas, has urged government to adopt a farm-based skilling programme for individual farmers across the country to increase agriculture output and food security.
Rev Fr Hillary Muhezangago, the Caritas director, said such training can transform the agriculture sector because farmers need the skills demonstrated in their respective gardens and plots rather than waiting for the extension staff who are not readily available.

“We believe that emphasis on equipping the farmers would be a better option for our farming population. We rally for support to have more farmers trained,” he said.
Fr Muhezangago added that whereas the country has trained agriculture extension staff, their impact on food security has not been felt in many parts of the country.

He was speaking at the pass out ceremony of farmers who underwent skills training with the guidance of Caritas at Mulungi Omu Agriculture Training and Research Centre in Nakaseke District on Saturday.

Advantages
Fr Muhezangango said the farmers, who undergo the Caritas-led training with practical demonstrations on their own farms, have demonstrated the capacity to transform their livelihoods.
“We have rolled out a farmer training programme targeting farmers who are ready to undergo specific training modules in improved farming skills. Our studies and assessments made from the farming sector reveal a significant gap between the extension staffs and the farmers,” he added.

Ms Margaret Lwanga, a farmer, said her family has benefited from the training. “We carry out planned and well monitored farming projects. The coffee and banana plantations at my farm now act as demonstration plots for other farmers. You cannot get this knowledge when you rely on services of the agriculture extension staff, who are very few in number, yet they are supposed to reach all farmers,” she said.

Babriel Ssumbuko, another farmer from Katikamu Parish, said: “Our farmers lack the necessary knowledge to implement good farming practices. It is a blessing to have had the opportunity to undergo the training targeting increased farm production.”
Under the training, the diocese also has a module for environment conservation.

“We are in an area where the effects of human activity on the environment have contributed to harsh weather conditions. We call on all our farmers to emphasise better farming practices. We also rally the farmers to plant more trees as part of the environment campaign,” said Fr Denis Ssebugwawo, the Kasana-Luweero Diocese pastoral coordinator.

Key factors
Role. An extension worker disseminates the knowledge of agricultural technology to farmers and other value chain actors. They guide users on how to maximise yields.

Decline. Greater Luweero used to be the food basket for central Uganda, producing both food and cash crops but overdependence on handouts from government and donors has led to decreased productivity.

[email protected]