MPs Urge Government to Boost Agricultural Support for Rural Farmers

Members of Parliament are pressing the government to enhance agricultural support systems for rural communities, emphasizing the need for equitable distribution of resources and timely provision of essential inputs. The calls came during a debate on the President’s State of the Nation Address, where legislators highlighted various challenges faced by farmers across the country.

Hon. Betty Aol, representing Gulu City, raised concerns about the uneven distribution of livestock under the national restocking program in the Acholi sub-region. She noted that the allocation of five animals per household is reaching only a limited number of individuals quarterly, hindering the ability of many residents who rely on animals for crucial tasks like tilling their land due to limited access to machinery such as tractors.

Similarly, Hon. Susan Abeja from Otuke District urged the Ministry of Agriculture to ensure coffee seedlings are supplied during the optimal planting season, rather than the current practice of distributing them during dry spells. She also requested government assistance with low-cost irrigation systems and regional soil mapping to identify suitable coffee varieties.

In Terego District, Hon. Rose Obigah highlighted issues of crop damage due to water flooding in the Imvepi Refugee Settlement. She called for immediate government intervention to address the problem, which she attributed to a poorly executed water project.

Responding to the flooding issue, the State Minister for Animal Industry, Hon. Bright Rwamirama, acknowledged the problem, stating that the contractor had abandoned the project but that efforts are underway, in collaboration with the Ministry of Water and Local Government, to resolve it.

Further calls for mechanization came from Hon. Wilfred Babanga of Terego East County, who advocated for equipping every sub-county with a tractor to enable farmers to participate more effectively in the country’s economy.

The discussions underscore a pressing need for the government to strengthen agricultural infrastructure and support mechanisms to ensure that its economic development plans translate into tangible benefits for rural farmers. The President’s address had previously outlined plans for intensive and extensive agriculture, alongside initiatives to address irrigation challenges through solar-powered schemes in several districts.

Source: Parliament of Uganda