tororo- Speaker of Parliament Jacob Markson Oboth Oboth has urged communities in bukedi region to embrace and consider coffee and cocoa growing as a way to go out of household poverty
speaking at the launch of the coffee and cocoa household poverty eradication initiative, a program aimed at raising incomes (entasha) in the region, oboth said this is a strong agriculture potential but persistent to poverty level’s
he further said the initiative should not be treated another seedlings distribution exercise but as a serious wealth creation program for households.
he said bukedi futile soils and favourable weather gives the region a strong chance to benefit from coffee and Cocoa which are the major and leading export crops in the country.
agriculture is no longer substance farming alone, it is a business capable of creating jobs and wealth if approached with the right mindset and technologies
the speaker urged farmers to move away from low yield methods and adopt better farming practices including the use of quality planting materials, environmental protection and organized co operatives to strengthen their bargaining power in the market.
he linked the initiative to government programs such as the parish development model (PDM) saying parliament will continue to support agriculture through budget allocation, implementation and oversight.
The Vice President Jesca Alupo said coffee and cocoa production will require investment in irrigation, especially in areas affected by dry spells.She called on the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries to speed up water-for-production interventions.“Coffee and cocoa require adequate moisture, especially during establishment and flowering stages,”
Alupo said.She called for small-scale irrigation systems, water harvesting technologies, valley tanks, dams, community water reservoirs and better watershed management.Alupo also encouraged farmers in Bukedi to diversify into coffee and cocoa alongside other commercial enterprises such as fruits, fish, dairy, poultry and piggery.She, however, cautioned farmers not to abandon food crop production.
the area member of Parliament Shyam tanna thanked the president his excellency yoweri kaguta museveni for his continued commitment to wealth creation and lobbied for key priorities for the region which include the upgrade of tororo hospital to a regional referral hospital, the rehabilitation of the tororo nagongera road and the establishment of a skilling center and the increased government
Tanna says with bukedi’s GDP standing at $135 compared to the national average of us $1185, the region deserves greater investment and opportunities.
therefore as the area member of Parliament he assured communities of his commitment to ensuring the voice of tororo municipality is heard and to deliver the development of the people.
