The Uganda Member of Parliament for Kibaale County in Kamwenge district Frank Mwebaze has urged the Uganda government to inject more funds in agricultural value addition so that rural farmers standards can be uplifted inform of increased household incomes from sale of agricultural produce.

Tumwebaze who is also the former Chairman of Uganda National Farmer’s Association told journalists at Uganda Parliament that more government investments in agricultural extension will lead to more food production which pushes the agricultural prices down therefore causing losses to farmers.

Frank Tumwebaze

Uganda government continues to invest billions of shillings in agricultural extension through the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS).

Analysts believe that increased investments in agricultural processing will in addition to more incomes to rural farmers also help in the preservation of food which helps improve food security.

Agriculture remains one of Uganda’s major economic sectors employing over 80 percent of the population. However, draught, diseases affecting crops and animals, corruption in NAADS, poor road networks, and poor farming methods among others has not helped Uganda farmers reap big from farming.

To transform the Uganda agricultural sector, Uganda finance minister Syda Bumba recently allocated funds to set up agricultural processing plants in every sub county in the country during the reading of the 2010/11 Uganda National budget.

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Zacharia Tiberindwa, Ultimate Media