President Yoweri Museveni has called on the youths in particular and the country at large to engage in commercial agro-production and value addition as a means of eradicating household poverty.
“Food production only for the stomach is not good. You must have income for yourselves. In all that you do, you must work with good calculations. I want to support the youth groups of Karamoja by donating to them flour mills and enable the production of animal feeds. This will assure us of value addition,” he said.
The President made the call during a meeting with a delegation of youths from the Sub-Regions of West Nile, Acholi, Lango, Karamoja and Teso Sub-Regions who called on him at State House, Entebbe accompanied by some elders.
Mr. Museveni encouraged the Karamoja members in the delegation in particular to cultivate fruits such as oranges, mangoes and grapes and observed that dates can do well in their Sub-Region.
He assured them that NRM Government is fully committed to providing communal valley dams adding that the long-term target is to enable each home to have its own water. He was optimistic that under this arrangement the zero grazing efforts to promote dairy production would be fruitful.
The President called on wananchi in the Sub-Regions to strive and actualize value addition on various agro-products targeting the export market. He called on Teso Sub-Region to exploit the opportunities offered by the fruit processing plant in their area.
He noted that the plant has not been fully utilized due to insufficient supply of fruits adding that some farmers have produced the type of oranges not suitable for juice extraction.
He, therefore, directed agricultural officials to work closely with the community in ensuring good quality suitable fruit breeds.
Regarding efforts to promote the dairy industry in Teso Sub-Region, the President used the occasion to urge Acholi Sub-Region to also fully embrace dairy production activities because their area has abundant water resources.
Mr. Museveni advised his visitors to take leadership seriously and elect people who are dedicated to the promotion of interests and needs of communities.
He further reminded them that the role of leadership entails showing wananchi the way and to deliver services.
He asked them to visit the Presidential farm at Kawumu in Luweero District to enable them get acquainted with small scale agro production practices