By Augustine Mumbere,
The Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries has taken steps to revitalize extension services by providing two hundred motorcycles to seventy-seven districts and six cities.
During the handover ceremony at the ministry headquarters, the Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industries and Fisheries, Hon. Frank Tumwebaze expressed confidence that the mobility challenge faced by extension staff in the beneficiary districts has been addressed.
Many agricultural staff in the districts have been struggling to deliver services, citing a lack of transport and facilitation with matters worsening in the current financial year when the Ministry of Finance discontinued the Agricultural Extension Grant, which traditionally supported districts in providing advice to farmers in the field.
Hon. Tumwebaze clarified that the grant has been restored this financial quarter after two quarters without it, following a strong case made by the Ministry to the Ministry of Finance. Part of the grant is expected to cover fueling the motorcycles and maintenance.
Hon. Tumwebaze speaking…….
Dr. Deus Muhwezi, the director of extension services at the ministry, stated that the chosen districts were based on vulnerability to food security and that other districts will follow based on the same criteria and the availability of funds. END