First deputy Prime Minister and Minister of East African Community Affairs who doubles as the Patron BCD, Rt. Hon. Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga has flagged off the Busoga Consortium for Development’s (BCD) Village Agricultural Model (VAM) initiative aimed at improving agricultural production and transforming lives of people in Busoga sub region and Uganda at large.
Kadaga, alongside the 3rd deputy Prime Minister/Minister without Portfolio and chairperson of the BCD Ministerial committee Rt. Hon. Rukia Isanga Nakadama, Busoga Consortium’s Director General Anthony Mula , Hon. Isaac Musumba and Mr. Zhang Xiaogiang the team leader FAO-China Uganda at South-South Cooperation project phase 3, and other esteemed dignitaries flagged off the initiative on August 4th 2024 at Mashaga village in Mayuge district and Busana village in Kamuli district.
Busoga Consortium for Development organized the trail to commission VAM selected villages in Busoga sub region where Kadaga who is also the patron of BCD was chief guest.
According to Nakadama, VAM is being piloted by BCD in collaboration with China Agricultural University (CAU) and the office of the Vice President, as a potent vehicle for unpacking the ten-year Busoga Development Agenda (BDA) and effective operationalisation of the Parish Development Model (PDM) program in Busoga.
She said VAM embodies a holistic approach that transcends individual farms to encompass entire villages, fostering community engagement, collaboration and sustainable agricultural practices.
“By adopting a village-wide perspective, VAM aligns seamlessly with the overarching goals of PDM, particularly in regions like Busoga, where a comprehensive approach is needed to break the cycle of poverty and deprivation,” Nakadama said.
She added that 12 model villages are going to be established across Busoga i.e one village per local government and that the selected villages are to be holistically developed into flagship epicenters from where local economic transformation will emerge to spread across the entire local government.
Nakadama informed residents that Kyabazinga William Gabula Nadiope IV and herself, recently led a delegation from Uganda particularly from Busoga sub region, under BCD to attend the 5th Forum on China Africa Local Government Cooperation (FCALGC) in Guangzhou China.
She said that during the forum, Chinese and African leaders witnessed the signing of a cooperation agreement between Uganda’s BCD province and Liaoning Province of China and thereafter resulted in creating the VAM initiative.
Nakadama revealed that President Yoweri Museveni is aware of the VAM initiative under BCD and appreciated his support in the initiative.
First deputy Prime Minister and Minister of East African Community Affairs, Rt. Hon. Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga appreciated Rt. Hon. Nakadama and Kyabazinga for leading a delegation to China where agreements were signed.
“I urge you to grow Sim-sim, Soya bean, rice and other food crops in plenty because orders have already been placed, for example, the Chinese need us to supply many tones of Sim sim by October this year,” Kadaga told residents.
Kadaga cautioned residents against selling their land and also stop land fragmentation but focus on growing the food crops at a large scale so that they can increase income in their households.
Kadaga further urged residents to embrace the initiative to enhance socioeconomic transformation in Busoga sub region and Uganda at large.
She thanked Zhang and his team for the commitment adding that they are going to stay in the pilot villages for a period of one and half years passing on various expertise to people who will benefit from this initiative.
Busoga Consortium’s Director General Anthony Mula Zhang Xiaogiang the team leader FAO-China Uganda at South-South Cooperation project phase 3
BCD’s Director General, Anthony Mula, informed residents that the market for their produce is ready and urged them to work with the Chinese experts via providing them with accommodation facilities, food and all necessary support.
Mula also introduced BCD staff to the public while at the event and appreciated support from Vice President Jessica Alupo, Isaac Musumba, Chinese Ambassador to Uganda and other dignitaries among others, towards initiating the VAM initiative.
Busoga Consortium’s Director General Anthony Mula Zhang Xiaogiang the team leader FAO-China Uganda at South-South Cooperation project phase 3
Zhang Xiaogiang the team leader FAO-China Uganda at South-South Cooperation project phase 3 revealed that his team is ready to showcase various enterprises in growing various crops in communities in the pilot villages.
Zhang added that he was delighted to work with Busoga Consortium under the VAM initiative aimed at transforming the lives of residents.
BCD’s Governor and L.C V chairperson of Luuka district, Simon Wakaze, requested leaders to embrace the initiative and asked local governments at Local Council III, IV and V to always include funds for implementation of VAM initiative in their budgets in order to reduce poverty in Busoga sub region.
Later Kadaga, Nakadama, Zhang, Musumba, Mula and other dignitaries signed on a raised banner as VAM was being commissioned in Mashaga village in Mayuge district.