By Benjamin Mwibo: The West Nile youth farmers through Gudie Leisure Farm (GLF), a non-government organisation have urged the government of Uganda to support them through bringing closer government programs such as Emyooga, and Parish Development Model- PDM.
GLF operates in 30 districts and 75 parishes where it champions youth training in agriculture. Tualib Onzima, GLF’s district parish entrepreneurship learning association chairperson has said young entrepreneurs are eager to partner with private investors and the government.
Onzima said the youth are more than ready to exploit the West Nile resources for the communities. He said the youth in the region have gained the relevant knowledge on farming and other agriculture related ventures.
”Despite the challenges in West Nile agriculture, such as enterprise selection where most youth farmers do not consider or select enterprise in the right way and the lack of startup capital, this region is located in an area that provides a ready market for the agricultural goods,” Onzima said.
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Onzima was addressing journalists in Kampala where he said the youths are under taking agriculture initiatives but they need support in all forms. He said they have already equipped 192 youths in the West Nile region with agriculture skills and they have been awarded certificates by the Directorate of Industrial training Under the Ministry of Education and Sports.
Some of the skills the youth have acquired include setting up breeders, treating chicken diseases, identifying poultry diseases, how to castrate the male animals and how to start up a business.
“These youths are proactively taking on the responsibility of training other youths in market relevant agribusiness skills so that they also become active as supply chain actors in the agribusiness industry. This will transform the West Nile and Ugandans,” Onzima said.
Prof Gudula Naiga Basaza, GLF’s managing director said out 3.2 million people estimated to be living in West Nile region, only about 46 percent is engaged in farming or agriculture. Gudula called upon potential investors to fill the investment gaps in line with agriculture in the region as it is not fully exploited.
“This West Nile region has plenty of waters for agriculture, tourism and for mining. Therefore the Ugandans out there are invited to seize the opportunity and a cultural immersion is on by second of July at GLF where cultures of the region are going to be showcased like dance and a museum of different technologies they have heard over the years,” Gudula said.
Gudula said a business symposium shall focus on the evolution of the region, the economic, social, and investment opportunities of the region. He said investing in the West Nile region are invited to share their strategies, their experiences and how they have been able to succeed their stories.