The government of Uganda has promised to continue structural transformation of agriculture sector from the current subsistence based farming to modern commercial agriculture.

According to president Yoweri Museveni, the government wants to ensure farmers transit from the and hoe to mechanized agriculture, from depending on rain to irrigation, and add value to their agriculture produce.

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Delivering the state of the nation address on Tuesday, Museveni said the government through the National Agriculture Advisory Services (NAADS) will also ensure supply of better seed varieties and animal breeds, farmers use relevant fertilisers and support farmers at village level in the 1,041sub counties of Uganda.

He says the government has recruited sub-county NAADS coordinators and procurement of better seeds, equipment and animal breeds has been put at the village committee level to eliminate corruption.

“Commercialization of agriculture will continue to be a priority”, Museveni says. He says the government has introduced an agriculture credit facility of over 90 billion available to fund agriculture activities at a rate not exceeding 12% per annum. But Museveni admits that despite putting up an agriculture financing scheme least year, there are still bottlenecks that are preventing agri-business firms from accessing loans.

He says the government has introduced a special plan for agriculture development for northern Uganda, and has a rice production scheme to see doubling of rice production within the next five years. The president says this will ensure food security in the country.

Museveni says the government is to work on three major irrigation schemes, and will promote micro irrigation, including drip irrigation that can be managed by most farmers. He told the MPs and dignitaries at the Serena conference centre that progress has been registers in the diary sector with 8% growth, and that the government has helped the livestock sector associations improve their farming.

Ultimate Media