BY OLINGA EMMANUEL
Katakwi: In a bid to promote agricultural productivity and economic empowerment among farmers in Katakwi district, the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries, through the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADs), has allocated 11,000 seedlings of cashew nuts to selected farmers in the region.
James Elungat, the District Agricultural Officer of Katakwi, confirmed the receipt of a letter from NAADs outlining the allocation and distribution plan for the cashew nut seedlings.
The distribution of the seedlings is set to commence at the beginning of April, with potential beneficiary farmers expected to contribute 30 percent of the seedlings’ cost, amounting to Ugx 1,800, while NAADs will cover the remaining 70 percent, equivalent to Ugx 4,200 per seedling.
The registration of beneficiaries commenced early last month, with 230 farmers set to benefit from the 11,000 allocated seedlings.
Elungat urged registered farmers to fulfill their co-funding obligations in order to access the seedlings, emphasizing the need for farmers in Katakwi to transition from subsistence to commercial agriculture to enhance their production levels.
The selection of beneficiaries will be based on a first-come, first-served basis, with Elungat encouraging farmers to seize the opportunity to cultivate cashew nuts due to the minimal risks and availability of a ready market for the produce.
He highlighted the current market prices of cashew nuts, which range from 3,000 to 10,000 shillings per kilogram, with supermarkets selling sachets of cashew nuts for 6,000 shillings.
Elungat underscored the economic potential of cashew nut farming in Katakwi, urging farmers to embrace this venture as a profitable opportunity for increasing their income and contributing to the growth of the agricultural sector in the region.
The distribution of seedlings is expected to enhance agricultural production and income generation among farmers in Katakwi district.
