BUTALEJA HOLDS AGRICULTURE EXHIBITION, COUNCIL HAILED
By; Ambrose Wanagoli
Hundreds of people in Butaleja have today(Thursday), gathered at the Butaleja Booma ground to attend to the Agriculture exhibition, organized by the department of production, with intent to boost productivity in the district.
Over 30 stalls of Chemicals, seeds, finished products, and other farming implements, were put on display with the readiness for inquiry or purchase.
Amina Dugo, the district Production officer, thanked the Butaleja district council for their support for the cause. She said that they bought the idea from their tours in admiration for what other farmers especially in Western Uganda do.
According to Ms. Dugo, they intended to expose the ordinary farmers to what they can do to improve on their yields, as they invited different chemists, Veterinary Officers, Stockists, and entrepreneurs to help sell the knowledge to the ordinary farmers.
The production officer, however, decried that many farmers locally misuse the stocks of maize upon the harvests, than crushing it for animal feeds.
Amina Dugo, said that they have machines for cutting the animal feeds and open for hire.
Charles Swama, the district Agriculture Engineer, said that they organized the exhibition following the increasing counterfeit on the open market, for the agricultural seeds, chemicals and other implements. He emphasized that they wanted to create awareness for the problem and encouraged the the farmers to freely seek the due advice. The Engineer, also argued that such exposure will lead the farmers to better yields.
Michael Higenyi Bore, the LCV for Butaleja district, expressed his happiness for the very First guesture, and affirmed that it’s yet be officiated as an Annual exhibition. He also thanked the agro produce dealers, and other partners in development, for having supported the Agriculture exhibition which was moreover free of charge. He promised to join the struggle to identify better market for the agricultural produce.
Sause Mayende(cocoa), at the exhibition narrated that he begun with few cocoa seeds, 5 years ago, and dumped the seeds into the banana plants, at the acreage of 7.
Mayende, further said that Cocoa seedlings call for a space of 10 metres besides each other, and need much rain for the health growth. He also boasted that he’s educated his children easily.
Another farmer, Stephen Negohe, exhibited the black flies that breed the maggots, edible for the chicken and other birds.
Negohe, flanked by Julius Mutenga(senior veterinary officer) and celebrated Master of Ceremonies in Butaleja district, argued that initially, the birds were competing with the humans for silver fish(Mukene), and soya feeds for nutrition of the birds; which reduced the number of “Mukene”, and soya.
The scientists thus opted to breed the maggots for chicken.
Meanwhile, Jackson Twebaze Ndahayo, the district Veterinary Officer, encouraged the farmers who attended the exhibition to get the best use of the chemicals, seeds and drugs sold in the exbihition for better results.
The Veterinary Officer, also complained that many farmers have the laziness for fumigating or deworming their animals.
