Rukungiri – The minister of Security Rtd. Maj. Gen. Jim K Muhwezi has asked farmers in Rukungiri district to diversify from the growing of traditional crops and invest their little earnings into the growing of high commercial value crops.
While addressing apple farmers in Buhunga sub-county Rukungiri district during a one day apple growing workshop that was organized to equip farmers with apple growing knowledge yesterday, Minister Muhwezi said traditional crops like Maize, cassava, potatoes among others doesn’t have high global market compared to other products like apples ,coffee, fish and bananas.
” With this changing global demands, am advocating for a diversified economy and advise you to take my message serious and you will see the difference within a short period of time “. Minister Muhwezi said.
The minister also advised farmers to use their small pieces of land and grow high value crops.
” We no longer have big pieces of land so Kindly invest in Enterprises that don’t need alot of land . Enterprises like coffee, fruits , zero-grazing, fish farming, poultry farming, piggery among others” Muhwezi said.
Dr Agaba Rolland , a crop doctor attached to Mbarara National agricultural research organisation (NARO) offices advised farmers to improve on their agronomic practices to increase on the productivity and quality of their produce.
” Make better use of information technology to have better crop, fertilizer and pesticide selection and step up their integration into the wide apple value chain”. Dr Agaba said.
He also asked apple farmers to use local methods of farming and prevention of pests and diseases than every time waiting for the government.
” Most of the challenges results from farmer’s themselves who fail to give attention to their gardens and responding to changes on time. So own your farms and stop this habit of saying government help us. First help yourselves as the government comes” Dr Agaba added.
The chairperson of Rukungiri Apple farmers , Dr Alex Kamugisha says they ventured into the apple growing to diversify their household incomes since the crop is valuable.
” This crop is on a high demand both at local and international scene. So am asking fellow farmers to venture into apple growing and see the benefits”Dr Kamugisha said.
He also called for improved rural infrastructure such as roads which are crucial to raising productivity through reductions in transport costs and the loss due to fruit perishability.
” We need good roads because apple fruits get destroyed within a short period of time so the government should work on our roads for easy transportation of the product to market centers”. Dr Kamugisha added.
The workshop was organized by National Agricultural research organisation (NARO) in partnership with Rukungiri district Apple farmers association with an intension of equipping farmers with apple growing knowledge and Skills.
Apple growing in Uganda.
According to Dr Agaba Rolland of Mbarara regional NARO offices , Apple is a temperate Climate fruit that was introduced in Uganda specifically in Kabale District in 1999. It is being cultivated as a cash crop in highlands.
The fruit has now attracted more than 100,000 families who are benefiting from growing apples, pears, plums, peaches and grapes. Due to favourable temperatures, the Government has zoned the highlands of Kigezi sub-region into temperate fruit production area.
Apple growing has spread to the highlands in Eastern Uganda mainly in Bugisu, Bukedi and Sebei sub regions in areas around Mt. Elgon. There are also a number of farmers in Rwenzori highlands who have taken up apple growing.
Currently, the Uganda government is promoting apple production under the National Agricultural Advisory services (NAADS) programme in the highlands of Kigezi, Bugisu, Bukedi and Sebei sub regions.
They are different Varieties of Apples in Uganda Anna which is imported from South Africa and Golden Dorset from South Africa.
At present, apple production lies with small-holder family farmers and they are commercializing it in the highlands in south-western and Eastern Uganda with a few large scale farmers.
To support them, the government of Uganda has launched a number of initiatives aiming at promotion of commercial apple development under the Plan for Modernisation of Agriculture. It is an initiative for increasing farmers’ income.
A successful transition to agricultural growth in Uganda depends on how effectively many farmers can move out of subsistence agriculture and take over commercial agriculture in a sustainable manner.
