Minister of Agriculture Frank Tumwebaze
The Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries wants Parliament to approve supplementary budget of Shs70bn to purchase tractors to help farmers across the country.
The supplementary request was tabled by Minister of Agriculture Frank Tumwebaze while appearing before the budget committee chaired by Kachumbala county MP, Patrick Isiaghi Opolot .
Tumwebaze informed the committee that the Shs70 billion is going to be used to purchase 200 high capacity tractors to support commercial farmers , regional centers and also be used for training farmers across the country.
MPs on the Committee tasked the Minister to explain the groups of people who are going to benefit from these tractors and what plans they have for other parts of the country that are not going to benefit.
In response, Tumwebaze said that the tractors are going to be distributed across the country and the ministry is going to have a comprehensive report on the areas that need these tractors and bring their request to parliament.
The Ministry is also seeking for Shs20 billion to purchase 400million doses of the foot and mouth disease.
Tumwebaze says that the doses will be for areas that have been badly hit by the disease, saying that its important to control the disease so that it does not affect the market value of the products.
We need collaboration with you MAAIF and Agromush uganda towards skilling rural women and youth with farming skills
The ministry should support mostly farmers in rural areas who need assistance.