Trained District Extension Workers from Northern Uganda have asked the government for proper infrastructure in order to enable efficiency in service delivery. This was at a function at Makerere University Agricultural Research Institute Kabanyolo in Wakiso district on Friday where 546 extension staff from 29 districts of Northern Uganda were passed out after one year of training intended to impart practical skills to farmers in Northern Uganda.
Veronica Akware, the Assistant Animal Husbandry officer from Amuria district said that they are now mandated to give farmers efficient breeds of animals to improve productivity by giving them environmentally adaptable breeds.
However, Akware noted that they have a challenge of handling the semen used to fertilize the animals in the region. She also said that there is a lack of an efficient supply of Liquid Nitrogen and gadgets used to transport semen which hinders their work.
“Semen is a living thing which must be kept and transported well to keep it alive to perform the desired duties. When not handled well they can be rendered inactive,” Akware said.
According to Akware, she says semen is only obtained at Nagric at Entebbe and then transported to the farmers in the regions. She wants the government to set up regional Nitrogen supply hubs for purposes of efficiency.
Akware also noted that they have acquired the theoretical part of the training but lack the practice part of what they have been trained. She has therefore asked the government to give them another two weeks of training in practical skills.
Gonzaga Mayanja, the Commissioner for monitoring and evaluation from the office of the Prime Minister said that the Development Initiative for Northern Uganda is aimed at consolidating stability, eradicating poverty, undernutrition, promote social and economic inclusiveness
Mayanja explained that the passed-out extension workers will have a chance to come back and study the practical part of the training as they have requested for efficient service delivery.
According to Mayanja OPM and the European Union have given out equipment such as a motorcycle, three laptop computers, a global positioning system machine, a camera, a soil testing kit, and projector photocopier.
Grace Kwiyucwiny, the minister of state for Northern Uganda Rehabilitation said the extension workers should promote the growth of cash crops like coffee and cotton in the northern regions.
Last year OPM awarded a grant contract of 1.2 billion shillings to the college of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences at Makerere University to design a short-term training course to the technical staff of the local production community-based services and trade in Northern Uganda.
The training touches 10 courses which include integrated pests and disease management, Agribusiness and market linkages, farmer institutional capacity development, Fish feed formulation, and feeding apiculture among others were provided to improve extension service delivery to farmers.