By Emma Decox Nyalo
Amolatar, Uganda | Nen Anyim bee keeping farmers group of Anamwany Parish in Awelo Sub County of Amolatar district have received input worth 29,984,000, under the climate smart agriculture, after co-funding 5,996,800 which is 20% requirement under the world bank project.
Samuel Dulson Okello, the project focal point person for Amolatar district told journalist at the production and marketing department offices at Amolatar district headquarters on Thursday, that the input includes 171 Kenyan top bar (KTB) bee hives, gumboots, smokers, air tight buckets and harvesting overalls among others.
Okello says the district is currently having 70,000 bee hives with average harvest of 10 kilograms per cycle, which is twice or thrice in a year, going at a farm gate price of 10,000/= per kilogram which fetches at least some 230,000,000/= per annum.
Francis Okello Odoki Rwotlonyo, the Resident District commissioner of Amolatar said the 29,984,000 shillings input by government is a huge investment that must be taken good care of, adding that they will closely monitor to see that it yields the intended benefit to Amolatar farmers.
Rodha Oroma, the Chief Administrative officer asked other groups that has not yet paid their co-funding money, to do so to enable them get input ahead of the new season, adding that she will only clear the contractor for payment once the farmers have received the inputs.
Joel Ayato, a retired head teacher and the vice chairperson of Nen Anyim bee keeping group revealed that they are almost only senior citizens by coincidence, expressing hope that the project will boost their wellbeing, but expressed fear of theft and insecticide usage in farming.
Geoffrey Okot, the supplier expressed dismay at the low intake of this very important and livelihood enhancing project by farmers, evidence by reluctancy in paying the required 20% co-funding.
Okot, appealed to the district leaders and media practitioners to continue sensitizing the farmers about the benefits of absorbing this project, saying many farmers are quitting the groups for failure to raise the co-funding.
The climate smart agriculture is a flagship project by government of Uganda with support from World Bank, where the farmer is required to pay 20% co-funding and its components include beneficial insects like Bees and Black flies, improved cattle breeds, poultry , crops like soy beans and fruit trees like mangoes and citrus among others.
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