Monitor, partners promise special farm clinic in Serere
Launch. Left to Right: Ms Winnie Mwiisa from the Agricultural Credit Facility at Bank of Uganda, Dr Micheal Ugen, the director NASARRI Serere, Ms Sarah Nalule, the head of marketing NMG Uganda, Ms Prossy Tumushabe, the Project Manager aBi Trust, Mr Umar Kyeyune from NARO and Mr James Muhwezi from the Microfinance Support Centre at the launch of the farm clinic in Kampala yesterday. PHOTO BY SHABIBAH NAKIRIJJA
What you need to know:
- Mr James Muhwezi, the manager of business development services and collaborations at Microfinance Support Centre (MSC), explained why they had to partner with MPL for the farm clinic.
- The head of Disbursement and Recovery Agricultural Credit Facility at Bank of Uganda, Ms Winnie Muliisa, said the farm clinic helps them interact with the farmers.
The organisers of Saturday’s Seeds of Gold Monitor Farm Clinic at the Semi-Arid Resources & Research Institute (NASARRI) in Serere District have vowed to make it an all-encompassing and hands-on agribusiness event.
While unveiling the Farm Clinic final preparations yesterday at Monitor Publications Limited (MPL) offices in Namuwongo, Kampala, the NASARRI director, Dr Michael A. Ugen, expressed gratitude that the farm clinic will be held at the institute again and revealed the farmers’ high expectations.
“Our job as NARO is to develop technologies that can help farmers improve their produces. The farm clinic helps us take technology nearer to the farmers. Cassava, citrus, groundnuts, cattle, sorghum, greengram, and poultry are the major commodities that people in eastern Uganda want most,” Dr Ugen said.
“We are going to consider the value chain. Last year we had more than 1,000 but this time we expect the number to double,” he added.
According to Ms Sarah Nalule Walakira, the head of marketing at MPL, the farm clinic will address the credit and incorrect information challenges faced by farmers.
Ms Prossy Tumushabe, the project manager at aBi Trust, one of the sponsors of the farm clinic, said agribusiness management is what is necessary for the agricultural sector to thrive.
“We intend to strengthen Uganda’s agricultural sector through facilitating agribusiness enterprises. We are excited to be associated with the farm clinic,” said Ms Prossy Tumushabe, the project manager at aBi Trust.
Mr James Muhwezi, the manager of business development services and collaborations at Microfinance Support Centre (MSC), explained why they had to partner with MPL for the farm clinic.
“When we saw the benefits derived by the earlier clinics, we had no option but to come on board. As Microfinance Support Centre, we provide affordable credit, provide capacity building and so we expect to get to the right partners through the farm clinic platform,” he said.
The head of Disbursement and Recovery Agricultural Credit Facility at Bank of Uganda, Ms Winnie Muliisa, said the farm clinic helps them interact with the farmers.
