Posted on October, 5, 2016 at 10:18 am
By Sadat Mbogo
Minister of Agriculture Vincent Ssempijja has advised farmers to put emphasis on using smart phones and computers to search for and create markets for their produce.
“You should acquire smart phones as soon as possible to search for both local and international markets and making research on the best prices for commodities. Don’t hate or fear them (smart phones), they are easy to use and portable. Many farmers use such gadgets to access markets in Japan, USA, The Netherlands and Kenya,” he said.
He praised organisations that design special applications to improve their marketing strategies, and urged farmers to borrow a leaf to widen the market for their goods and services.
During a recent tour of Mawokota South, Ssempijja also directed district leaders to set up programmes of empowering farmers’ associations through capacity building on group dynamics, record keeping, administration, quality and quantity, value addition and monitoring.
“We (government) shall base on these elements to rate the district or a farmers’ group on how you have supported agriculture sector.
They (district local leaders) should come up with a plan; work jointly with sub-county agriculture officers to empower our people with sufficient knowledge and skills to boost farming in our areas. It is from here that the government will intervene for more aid,” he said.
Muligi Ntambi, the chairperson Mpigi District Farmers’ Association urged youth to engage in agriculture and advised them to use the available land or practice agro-forestry to conserve the environment.
Agriculture is repeatedly described as the backbone of the economy employing at least 85 per cent of the population, But investment in the sector is still low, which has kept productivity down.
Source: Daily Monitor