By Baluku Jack
Poor farming practices in Bughendera Constituency in Bundibugyo district have been blamed on extension workers who are accused of failing to monitor and sensitize the farmers. The extension workers are also accused of not making regular visits to farmers in their respective sub-counties.
The blame was slapped on the extension workers during a sharing meeting of farmers and extension farmers held on Monday at Vanilla Hotel in Bundibugyo town. The meeting was also attended by the Bundibugyo district Chairperson Mr. Robert Tibakunirwa, Bughendera County Member of Parliament, Hon. Acrobert Moses Kiiza and the Deputy Resident District Commissioner Mr. Umar Musinguzi.
During the meeting, farmers accused their extension workers from the 14 local sub counties of not playing their designated roles of sensitizing them on the suitable and applicable methods and approaches of farming.
The extension workers are not only to inform farmers to improve their lands and prepare a cropping pattern but also motivate them to use improved agricultural implements and adopt the modern agricultural practices according to social-economic status.
The district boss Mr. Robert Tibakunirwa also blamed his staff attached to the production department of poor performance saying the office had not done enough to understanding the challenges faced by farmers during and after the season. Tibakunirwa, he however vowed to work closely with the extension workers and the district production officials and lay down strategies and modalities on how they can transform Agriculture in the district.
He also vowed to strongly deal with a section of people who he said had teamed up in the district purposely to fail his system and government programs. He also warned the recently elected leaders from not politicizing government programs urging them to work towards serving the people of Bundibugyo equitably.
During the meeting, three tons of bean seedlings were donated through the parish model farming program with an aim of enhancing food security and subsequently improve the household income. The three tons were handed to the extension workers and would be distributed to 10 members from each sub county of Bughendera and Bwamba counties in the district.
Bughendera County Member of Parliament, Acrobert Moses Kiiza, challenged the beneficiaries to properly put into use the donated bean seedlings. He also challenged them to form groups and SACCOS if they are to continue benefiting from other government programs.
Officiating the launching and distribution of the bean seedlings, the Deputy RDC, Umar Musinguzi sounded a serious warning against incompetent workers at the district. He also raised need to asses and monitor the already existing programs including Entandikwa, Youth livelihood, NAADs, OWC and Emyoga programs which he said were instituted to improve people’s livelihood.
