Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni is urging citizens to invest their resources in agriculture, according to a recent press release from the statehouse. During a visit to Luweero District, the president walked from house to house during a three-day tour of the Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) project. According to the Ministry of Defense, OWC aims to eradicate poverty in the country through sustainable agricultural production.
The Ministry notes that while the project has had its successes, it also has faced challenges, including post-harvest losses, low levels of financing, weak inter-ministerial and sectoral linkages, and quality issues for both breeding and planting inputs and outputs.
The emphasis on agriculture as a key economic pillar is highlighted in the “Agricultural Sector 2014-15 Annual Monitoring Report,” which notes that farming has the potential to lift the Ugandan economy to middle-income status by 2040.
Following the tour, the president posted tweets documenting what he observed from his visit:
Visited several households in Kawumu village, Luweero to inspect their gardens and assess progress of Operation Wealth Creation programme. pic.twitter.com/IwrUzg6tsZ
— Yoweri K Museveni (@KagutaMuseveni) October 31, 2016
Leaders shouldn’t just stop at distributing seeds but also supervise. Agriculture officials should offer technical assistance to farmers. pic.twitter.com/0P5aEhkv8n
— Yoweri K Museveni (@KagutaMuseveni) October 31, 2016
It’s Day Three of my Operation Wealth Creation drive in Luweero. Began the day fetching water for use in a drip irrigation demonstration. pic.twitter.com/Otmku5WkSn
— Yoweri K Museveni (@KagutaMuseveni) October 31, 2016
With changing weather patterns and unreliable rainfall, farmers must do more irrigation. Like I demonstrated, it should not be expensive. pic.twitter.com/rckX30AgW8
— Yoweri K Museveni (@KagutaMuseveni) October 31, 2016
The country’s ruling party, the National Resistance Movement, has advised families that own at least four acres of land to reserve an acre each for planting coffee, growing fruits and vegetables, and maintaining pastures for animal grazing.
The president said families that follow the government’s suggestions could earn $3,200 to $5,200 a year.
He also announced that the government will provide 35 homes per village with coffee, tea, or cocoa seeds to promote the initiative.
