Julius Otim, the Agronomist taking the trainees through the session in the ‘Screen House. Photos by Sintes Raymond Obwona
By Sintes Raymond Obwona
Gulu
At least 312 Smallholder farmers, in Acholi and Lango sub-regions have been trained on how to produce vegetables on a large scale using modern technology to fight food insufficiency.
The training which attracted farmers from the districts of Nwoya, Kitgum, Lira, Oyam and Gulu City, was held under the theme; “Increasing Farmers’ Productivity through access to quality seeds, Technology and good Agronomic Practices.”
It was organized and facilitated by Syngenta Vegetable Seeds in collaboration with Agro-Business Initiative (aBi) and Techno Serve.
The training under the Northern Uganda Horticulture Market Acceleration Program was conducted at Syngenta Vegetable Seed Screen House in Customs-Corner Cell, Layibi Ward, Bardege-Layibi Division, Gulu City.
Pascal Kahesi, the Country Support Manager for Syngenta Vegetable Seeds, revealed that they intend to give farmers at the grassroots the necessary skills to improve their vegetable production for both home consumption and commercial purposes.
According to Kahesi, research conducted from 2018 to 2020 found that at least 80% of the farmers in northern Uganda lose 40% of their vegetables because they don’t know how to manage their plants pre-harvest.
“With this collaboration, we listed northern Uganda as one of the affected areas to increase farmers’ productivity,” Kahesi said.
He added that 70% of the farmlands in Uganda have lost fertility, which calls for modern farming to improve the soils.
Smallholder Farmers embrace the Development
Samuel Otto, a vegetable grower in Oguru Village, Pugwinyi Parish, Owor Sub-County, Gulu District, said that he has learned how to manage vegetable crops from the nursery bed to transplanting and care, up to harvesting.
Otto said he is committed to following the procedures in horticulture for better yield and subsequent improvement in his financial status and life.
Florence Lukwero, a 48-year-old is practicing modern farming on a small scale in Bwobo-Manam B Village, Bwobo-Manam Parish, Alero Sub-County, Nwoya District.
Also a teacher, Lukwero chose modern farming as an additional source of income to adequately meet family demands. Each week she earns 60,000 shillings from the sale of eggplants.
Lukwero who specializes in cabbage and eggplant growing said that she used to get four bags of eggplant per week, but hopes to increase that yield with the skills she has attained.
Ricky Olara, another farmer in Lacor Centre Cell, Lacor Ward, Bardege-Layibi Division in Gulu City explained that he had never practiced any agriculture-related venture, but has been inspired by the training, and is ready to start vegetable farming this season.
After the training, Olara is confident that he is equipped to select seeds, prepare a nursery bed, plant transplant, and irrigate and care for his crops.
“I’m going to use our one-acre idle piece of land to practice urban farming to produce tomatoes for sale,” Olara said.
Agronomist’s view
Julius Otim, an Agronomist, who also trained the farmers, said that farmers should learn how to use both the inorganic and organic fertilizers in their vegetable farming.
According to Otim, most farmers are ignorant about integrating organic and inorganic fertilizers, with many opting for inorganic fertilizers, and overusing them, which in the end destroys crops and harms humans.
