MICHAEL N
Leaders in Ntungamo District have boosted agricultural productivity by distributing key farming materials to extension workers and local farmers, alongside commissioning a modern vaccine storage facility.
The district leadership today handed over five beehives, honey harvesting equipment, 10 sprayers, and three motorcycles one to an agricultural officer and two to veterinary officers. The items are expected to enhance service delivery and support farmers in improving their yields.
The same event also marked the commissioning of a Cold Chain Facility at the district grounds, aimed at ensuring safe storage of agricultural and veterinary vaccines. The function was attended by district veterinary and agriculture officers, the LC5 Vice Chairperson, the Resident District Commissioner (RDC), and several beneficiaries.
Speaking at the event, Ntungamo RDC Mrs. Miriam Mugisha Kagiga cautioned beneficiaries against misusing or selling the government-provided equipment. She emphasized that the materials are intended to support government programs and warned that anyone found misusing them would be held accountable in courts of law.
The LC5 Vice Chairperson, who also serves as the councillor for Nyamunuka Town Council, Hajji Asuman Kigongo, urged extension workers who received motorcycles to reach farmers in remote villages. He said this would help them better understand the challenges farmers face and inform government interventions to improve productivity.
Kigongo further noted that extension workers have been tasked with submitting monthly reports to their respective departments to strengthen accountability and ensure effective service delivery.
Ntungamo District Veterinary Officer, Dr. Yake Basulira, revealed that the funds used to procure the items were sourced from the Capital Development Fund. He explained that the initiative is intended to increase farmers’ productivity and extend government services to local communities through regular consultations.
Dr. Basulira added that veterinary officers who received motorcycles are expected to frequently visit cattle keepers, especially during the ongoing Foot and Mouth Disease quarantine, to ensure proper monitoring and support.
He further highlighted that the newly commissioned Cold Chain Facility has the capacity to store up to 1.5 million doses of vaccines, with an additional refrigeration unit capable of holding between 30,000 and 60,000 frozen doses. The facility is solar-powered and includes an office and a power room.
According to Dr. Basulira, the facility will help reduce vaccine wastage by ensuring proper storage before distribution to the field for animal vaccination and agricultural use.
Ntungamo district leaders reaffirmed their commitment to supporting farmers through continuous sensitization and training programs conducted at local farms, including coffee plantations, fish ponds, and cattle farms. These efforts aim to improve product quality, increase yields, and reduce the impact of pests and diseases on farmers’ incomes.
