The Mbarara city Agricultural Officer, Vicent Mugabi, said that the growing of grapes in the city is new and as the department, they are not knowledgeable about the crop.
Trials will be carried out at five sites that include the prison farms of Kiburara in Ibanda and Isimba in Masindi, Maruzi Livestock Research station in Apac District, Nabuin Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute in Nabilatuk district and Mbarara Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute in Mbarara City.
The Organic Fertilizer, I-Soft Organic Fertilizer was innovated and developed by students of the Faculty of Agriculture and Livelihood at MUST in collaboration with the Mbarara Grapes Farmers Association, and Mbarara Agricultural Research Development Institute.
Nathan Bakundane, one of the affected para vets, says that he has worked for the last three years until the National Drug Authority confiscated his drugs and asked to present a licence from the veterinary board in vain.
The recent survey Conducted by FAO on Market Information Services in all FAO member countries it indicated that while a large number of countries do operate some type of Market Information System, the vast majority of services cannot be relied on to provide commercially useful information for farmers and traders.
According to Bakashaba, the surveillance teams which include veterinary staff, farmers, and traders have been deployed at the border between Mbarara and Kihurra in Kyenshama, Rubaya, and Biharwe.
Michael Van den Berg, the head of Dairy and Apiculture development at Pearl Dairy says the initiative is seeking to assist affected dairy farmers with an alternative source of income.
Andrew Bakashaba, the Mbarara District Veterinary Officer says that they have so far collected 40 samples from four farms in Biharwe Division and Kagongi Sub County in Mbarara City and District respectively.
The Head of veterinary services NDA, Jeanne Muhindo, says that the culprits have been duplicating pesticides for spraying bedbugs, cockroaches and other insects and re-package them as acaricides for spraying animal, which they rebrand as Tick Burn.
Dr. Bernard Sibwome, the head of Drug Regulation in NDA, says the dairies use unqualified people to dispense drugs to farmers, which is dangerous to human and animal life.
According to a statement released by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, the arrest is in line with investigations into the mismanagement of over 18 billion Shillings in NAGRIC and DB under the watch of the Executive Director Dr Charles Lagu.
Associate Professor Alex Ariho, the Director-General of Excel Hort Consult Agribusiness incubator in Biharwe, says that farmers need to borrow a leaf from religious leaders who have embraced social media tools and platforms to maintain contact with their flock.
Wilson Bagatuzire, a farmer in Kashari says he is worried of where to take his milk because Pearl Dairies, which used to buy the bulk of the milk, closed yet cooperatives cannot consume what they produce.
In the financial year 2018/19, the Ministry of Agriculture released the money to Mbarara Municipal Council, through the MAAIF project to start demonstration gardens in six divisions of Mbarara that is Biharwe, Kakiika, Kakoba, Kamukuzi, Nyamitanga, and Nyakayojo.
Wilson Kasana, a dairy farmer from Sanga in Lyantonde district, says closing village coolers would affect them a lot, saying cooperatives pay unfair prices to farmers.
Small and large-scale farmers in the area had adopted the application of improved seeds and fertilizers to increase their yields. However, their passion is now frustrated by the prevalence of poor quality and counterfeit seeds and other inputs which has resulted into low or no yields, or sometimes loss of livestock.
Peace Kaconco, the LC V Councilor of Rubaare town council, says the problem of unclaimed bodies is a serious challenge for the town council and Rubaare Health Centre IV management. She however, says the town council lacks resources to secure burial grounds.
