Modern agriculture technology
The Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU) has designed an Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) for capacity development initiatives to help farmers supply their products to oil companies in the Albertine Graben.
PAU Executive Director, Ernest Rubondo, says the initiatives aim at delivering selected areas on pilot models including supporting 500 smallholder farmers to supply products to camps and also supporting associations.
Others are a piggery chain in Hoima, constructing an abattoir, training 100 pig farmers, training on food standards for the oil and gas selected farmers in Nwoya and exposure visit for dairy and livestock farmers in Buliisa.
Rubondo says a study of the agricultural value chains conducted under the project proposed that cassava, horticulture, piggery, cattle and rice value chains and fish should be supported.
“These interventions will focus on supply and demand sides. The supply side will strengthen production services and work directly with smallholder farmers and communities in the region. This is done to strengthen capacities for market-oriented production and ability to engage with markets”.
At production stage, farmers are required to control contamination from air, soil, foodstuffs, water, all sorts of fertisers including natural ones, pesticides, veterinary drugs and other agents used in primary production.
They also have to control plant and animal health lest it pose a threat to human health through food consumption besides protecting their food sources from fecal and other contamination.
The Kingfisher project in Kikuube and Hoima districts will consume an estimated quantity ranging from 80 sacks of beans and rice to 4,000 kg of onions in a camp of 3,000 men per month.
The Tilenga project with a 5,000 man camp in Buliisa and Nwoya districts will get supplies ranging from 64 sacks of peas and millet to 3,840 heads of cabbage as estimated quantities required per month.
Spinach, broccoli, lettuce, cauliflower, coriander, aubergine and courgettes will be on demand including all known vegetables, foods and fruits grown in this country.
Rubondo advises farmers to use improved agricultural tools like tractors to meet the supply.
Uganda has transitioned from exploration and appraisal phase to the development phase in preparation for sustainable production of the petroleum resources.
