UPDF OFFICERS COMPLETE INDUCTION TRAINING Army officers not to interfere but enhance service delivery Speaking during the closing ceremony of the Induction Training Course of UPDF officers held at Makerere University, Senior Presidential Adviser on Defense and Security, Gen Caleb Akandwanaho aka Salim Saleh, said government was developing strategies to increase production through improved planting materials, animal stock and irrigation, among others. He said the army officers who will monitor the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADs) programme will not interfere but enhance service delivery adding that the army will focus on storage, value addition and marketing, leaving the technical component to NAADs officials and other technocrats. He appreciated the university administration for agreeing to train the soldiers saying, the information passed on to them would later help in improving agriculture and livelihoods of Ugandans. “It is important to appreciate that raising smallholder agricultural productivity is only possible if smallholders can sell their products at a profit and make the necessary investments to improve productivity,” Gen Saleh said. “if a farmer is unable to make a profit, he/she cannot invest in increasing productivity; he will not purchase fertilizers; he/she will not purchase fungicides etc.” he added. The 14-day course included both theoretical classwork and practical lessons where officers visited a number of demonstration farms in and outside Kampala. The officers covered crop production (crop protection, fertilizer application and tree nurseries), animal production (bee keeping, poultry, goats and sheep management, piggery, dairy, animal feeds and feeding), agribusiness which covered farm accounts, record keeping, marketing and community empowerment.
Posted on: Wed, 20 Aug 2014 06:19:23 +0000
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