She said that the VegeSeed project, which is to run for nine years funded by the Korean government, is to ensure breeding and establishment of a vegetable system in Uganda focusing on five commodities; nakati, shallot onion, pumpkin, tomatoes and chilli pepper.
Farm equipment for use by a team of 20 selected farmers in the vegetable seed multiplication project based at Bbowa in Luweero district has been handed over to the beneficiaries by Mukono Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MUZARDI).
The equipment including a New Holland tractor and ploughs, motorized spray pumps, seed sizer and seed extractors were provided by the Korean government under the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), and the project is the result of lobbying by MUZARDI. It will be overseen by Luweero district local government and Bulemeezi county.
The equipment was on Wednesday handed over to Luweero district leadership by MUZARDI spokesperson Maria Nampeera Kayabula who represented the Director MUZARDI, and the function was attended by among other people, the Bulemeezi county head, Kangaawo Ronald Mulondo, Luweero district chairperson, Elasto Kibirango, the district Principal Assistant Chief Administrative Officer, Henry Musisi and the District Agricultural Officer, Wilberforce Ssemigga.
Handing over the equipment on January 29, 2025, MUZARDI spokesperson Nampeera said they will continue monitoring and guiding farmers on the best way to carry on the project.
She said that the VegeSeed project, which is to run for nine years funded by the Korean government, is to ensure breeding and establishment of a vegetable system in Uganda focusing on five commodities; nakati, shallot onion, pumpkin, tomatoes and chilli pepper.
“National Crops Resources Research Institute (NaCRRI) is entitled to do the breeding yet MUZARDI is to do the early generation seed multiplication. MUZARDI will avail foundation seed to farmer groups in Mukono and Luweero districts who will produce certified seeds which will be sold out to farmers across the country,” she said.
Nampeera revealed that additional assistance including wheelbarrows and spray pumps will be supplied to the farmers as part of the project and pledged to move together with the project under guidance from Bulemeezi county leadership.
As part of the project assistance, the running water system and green houses were constructed at Bbowa for the twenty farmers to study and then go to their own fields to produce seeds for multiplication to the entire region and the country in the long run.
Receiving the equipment, the Kabaka’s representative for Bulemeezi, Kangawo Ronald Mulondo said the local people’s problems are rooted in poverty, and implored the farmers in the selected group to endeavour to sensitize their fellow locals on how to produce the vegetables for more than home consumption but also ensure that they have a surplus for sale in order to overcome poverty.
Mulondo advised beneficiaries to diversify their production by starting to grow other crops in addition to the specified crops including pumpkins, onions, tomatoes, chilli and nakati (vegetables). He further guided them to expand their gardens to grow crops like coffee, matooke and others.
The district chairperson Kibirango expressed optimism that the project is going to flourish especially given that the district is exposed to a government-supported micro irrigation scheme, meaning that those near water sources will have no excuse for not producing all year round.
Kibirango reported that although the micro irrigation scheme funding of close to sh2bn per financial year was for the over first three financial years unutilized and returned to the government treasury as the locals were skeptical about its element of 25 percent co-funding, the idea has now picked up.
“Farmers have been sensitized and the sh2.4bn provided last year was adequately used. He said that this year, sh2.9bn is expected from the government to boost the irrigation scheme,” he said.
The Principal Assistant Chief Administrative Officer for Luweero district, Henry Musisi said the World Bank-funded micro irrigation scheme is going to be popularized more among the farmers, especially given that today farmers have come to like it after understanding its operation.
The District Agricultural Officer, Wilberforce Semigga said that although the irrigation scheme has a five-year life span only and is expiring after this financial year, chances are high that it will be renewed because its use is just picking momentum amongst farmers.
Ssemigga informed farmers that co-funding for accessing solar-powered irrigation systems is only 25% with government paying the 75%, it is comparatively small considering the benefits if properly used.