In a bid to fight poverty and boost food security in Busoga sub region, Busoga Consortium for Development (BCD), launched the mass planting season of Soya bean in three pilot districts under its Village Agricultural Model (VAM) project.
The VAM project being implemented by BCD aims at transforming livelihoods and also enhancing agricultural productivity in Busoga starting in the three piloting districts of Namayingo, Mayuge and Kamuli.
The mass planting of soya bean was launched on March 29th, in three model villages namely Namayombe in Buhemba sub county in Namayingo district; Mashiaga village in Mayuge district and in Busana Kamuli district.
The BCD VAM Soya bean planting season in Namayingo was officially launched by Busoga Kingdom’s Prime Minister Dr. Joseph Muvawala who was accompanied by the Namayingo district Mr. Ronald Sanya, Busoga Kingdom’s Agriculture Minister Sam Nkenga and Andrew Ntange the Spokesperson and Chief of Protocol in the office of the prime minister of Busoga Kingdom.
While addressing farmers who are beneficiaries from the project, Muvawala informed farmers that BCD has complemented the government of Uganda and ObwaKyabazinga Bwa Busoga in promoting development and urged people of Namayingo to embrace the project.
“Many people used not to believe in the programs of Busoga consortium and they used to sabotage it but now it has started working—it has responded to its enemies with action and not mere words,” Muvawala said, adding that Basoga ought to embrace farming in Busoga sub region.
He further cautioned people against sabotaging projects brought in Busoga to boost development and transform livelihoods through Obwa Kyabazinga Bwa Busoga.
Sam Nkenga the Minister of Agriculture and who represented BCD’s Director General at the event said the VAM project is being implemented in Busoga by BCD in partnership with China Agricultural University (UAU).
Nkenga said the initiative is aimed at having a significant impact in Busoga sub region and Uganda’s agricultural sector as a whole, boost socio-economic growth and food security.
He further said that in future, BCD expects to establish a bulking centre and processing centre to facilitate value addition on Soya bean and be able to manufacture soya milk, soya oil, fish feeds and chicken feeds among others.
Nkenga assured farmers that BCD will look for a market for the Soya bean and other enterprises that farmers will engage in.
Ruth Nagawa the CEO of VAM at Namayombe village said 100 people will benefit from the pilot project in the village adding that each will plant 1 acre of Soya bean for the start.
The Namayingo district agricultural officer Daniel Dembe said that a farmer is expected to harvest a minimum of about 700 kilograms and a maximum of 900 kilograms from the one acre.
In Mashiaga village, Maguye district, the Third Deputy Prime Minister and chairperson of the Ministerial Coordination Committee (MCC) for BCD, Rukia Nakadama launched the VAM planting season. She was accompanied by BCD’s Director General Anthony Mula alongside several government officials, district officials, local leaders, and agricultural stakeholders, all committed to boosting food security and improving livelihoods through modernized farming techniques.
Speaking at the launch, Nakadama emphasized the central government’s dedication to transforming the agricultural sector by empowering farmers with improved farming inputs, access to modern technology, and training on sustainable practices.
BCD’s Director General Anthony Mula said the project spearheaded under BCD leadership, China Agricultural University, Makerere University Business School and the Office of the Vice President aims to enhance agricultural productivity and promote sustainable farming practices across the region.
In Busana village, Kamuli district, first deputy Prime Minister and Minister of East African Community Affairs Rebecca Kadaga was represented by the Bugabula North Member of Parliament John Teira to officially launch the planting season. Kadaga is also the patron of BCD.
