Minister Peter Ogwang
Uganda’s State Minister for ICT and National Guidance, Peter Ogwang has faulted Ministry of Agriculture for buying agricultural inputs like cassava for poor farmers without consulting the stakeholders and beneficiaries.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Ogwang stated that the ministry procured cassava cuttings for farmers at Shs800million which dried up in Palam Sub County without farmers taking it for planting.
This is because it was supplied in dry season and to some people, it was not their desired crop, the Minister said.
Ogwang said that the people of Teso need livestock but not cassava.
He noted that Shs800m wasted on cassava cuttings should have been used to buy one million goats which would not only serve one Sub County, but the entire population of Katakwi district and other neighbouring districts in Teso sub-region.
He however, commended government for the Restocking program for Teso People and particularly in Katakwi who have received livestock although in some cases particularly in Palam Sub County, locals rejected the cows because they were of bad breed.
He said that there is need for Ministry of Agriculture along with other associated government units to sit with all stakeholders to review the zoning and what inputs should be delivered to our people.
He further added that currently, Katakwi is facing severe floods; roads have been cut off, hundreds of people have been displaced from their homes, gardens and crops are waterlogged, which is evident that livestock farming can stand the test of all these torrid seasons including drought or even floods.
He pleaded to the Office of the President to fully facilitate RDCs to help in monitoring government programs and called for the urgent desilting of the new and existing colonial water dams to catch water for animals.
He asked government through the Ministry of works to avail a budget to Local Government to help in repairing and rehabilitating boreholes, while Ministry of Agriculture should continue supplying inputs such as tractors/hand-walking tractors and hand hoes to farmers.
