Minister Tumwebaze Hands over Agricultural Equipment Worth Ugx 49bn to Rwenzori Farmers

The Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries Hon. Frank Tumwebaze has spent 3 days in Tooro sub region monitoring the progress of implementation of Government projects during which he commissioned and handed over agricultural equipment and other agro- infrastructure to farmers under the Agro-industrialization for Local Economic Development (AGRILED) program.

AGRILED is a presidential initiative piloted in Rwenzori region to spur economic development in the region through agro- industrialization. Implementation of the programme commenced in financial year 2020/21 when Government released Ugx 49bn to NAADS Secretariat, the lead implementer of the programme.

The secretariat of the AGRILED PROGRAM is under the Ministry of Local Government.

The programme is being implemented in the 11 Local Governments of Kasese, Kitagwenda, Bunyangabu, Kabarole, Kyegegwa, Kyenjojo, Ntoroko, Bundibugyo, Kamwenge, Fort Portal City and Kasese Municipality.

Out of the Ugx 49bn, NAADS Secretariat procured 13 tractors, 12 milk coolers, 7 maize mills and their structures, 2 feed mills and their structures, 2 mini dairy processing facilities, 7 coffee hullers and one rice mill.

NAADS also constructed 5 grain stores and is in the process of constructing 10 agricultural markets and 2 mini irrigation schemes in Kamwenge and Kasese.

The above interventions are distributed among the 11 beneficiary Local Governments based on the priorities they submitted to the Ministry of Local Government.

During the 3 day visit, Hon. Tumwebaze accompanied by State Ministers Hon. Hellen Adoa and Hon. Bright Rwamirama, commissioned some of the AGRILED projects and handed them over to the selected farmer beneficiaries.

The Minister started in Kyegegwa on Wednesday 15th June where he handed over a grain store, maize mill, a feed mill and 4 milk coolers to beneficiaries. In Bunyangabu district, he handed over 5 tractors, 4 milk coolers and 2 maize mills. The Minister ended his visit in Kamwenge on Friday 17th June where he handed over 8 tractors, 4 milk coolers and 2 maize mills, 2 grain stores and 3 coffee huller facilities to the selected beneficiaries.

Minister Tumwebaze cautioned the beneficiaries of the equipment/facilities to put them to good use and warned that those who will be found misusing or under utilizing them, they will be taken away from them and be given to serious farmers.

The representative of the Executive Director NAADS Ms. Grace Kazigati assured the farmers that implementation of the AGRILED programme is still ongoing and more people in the Rwenzori region are yet to benefit.

Under the same AGRILED programme, Government through NAADS has constructed an industrial park in Kasese District