The Director of NARO Bulindi, Dr. Sylvester Dickson Baguma, has called on farmers and other stakeholders in Kakumiro District to adopt high-value crops as part of efforts to create wealth and transform household incomes.
He made the remarks on August 3rd, 2024, during a wealth creation-focused meeting organised by the Prime Minister of Uganda, Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja, at Classic Hotel in Kakumiro District. Dr. Baguma emphasised the importance of farming as a business, urging farmers to make the best use of small land plots by focusing on high- value crops that have the potential for significant returns. He mentioned Hass Avocado, Macadamia nuts, and onions as prime examples of crops with profitable market opportunities.
In particular, Dr. Baguma highlighted the impressive potential of Hass Avocado, explaining that a single acre could accommodate approximately 166 plants. By the 10th year, these trees could produce up to 290,500 fruits, yielding an estimated 203 million Ugandan Shillings (UGX) in revenue. “We want you to do farming as a business in a smart way, even on a small piece of land,” Dr. Baguma told the gathering, which included parish chiefs, Local Council II Chairpersons, National Resistance Movement (NRM) leaders, and representatives from the Parish Development Model (PDM) Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies (SACCOs).
Additionally, Dr. Baguma highlighted NARO Bulindi’s ongoing efforts in promoting the 4-acre model, which is being piloted in the Bunyoro region. He shared that the institute had provided technical support to the Prime Minister for the establishment of a 4-acre model demonstration farm in Kakumiro, showcasing how a combination of crops (coffee, banana, onions and pastures) can increase agricultural productivity and provide a sustainable source of income for farmers. He expressed his gratitude to the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja, for her leadership in organising the farmer education event in 2023.
The initiative enabled NARO Bulindi to reach out to farmers in the greater Kibaale region with cutting-edge agricultural technologies. Dr. Baguma called on the Prime Minister to expand such educational initiatives to other districts in the Bunyoro region to ensure that the benefits of modern farming reach as many communities as possible.
Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja, in her address, urged participants to mobilise local farmers and encourage them to take advantage of government programmes, particularly the Parish Development Model (PDM), which aims to support rural communities in improving agricultural productivity.