As oil production phase heats up, farmers in Bunyoro region are advised to desist from engaging in agricultural activities that do not position them to directly target the projected market in the oil and gas sub-sector.
Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja discourages farmers from engaging in sugarcane, tea and tobacco growing hoping to reap oil money since they cannot be consumed by workers in the oil industry once production begins.
She says getting actively involved in diversified intensive farming concentrating on food crop farming, poultry keeping and livestock rearing will enable them produce that they can supply to workers in oil companies operating in the Albertine Graben.
The Prime Minister says such an investment is more relevant for farmers to inject in their money, labour and time as it is an income generation setter from the projected market in the oil and gas resources.
Ms Nabbanja who is also the Kakumiro district woman Member of Parliament, urges local leaders in Bunyoro region to vigorously mobilise community members and sensitise them about how to utilise every available opportunity that can pave the way for them to tap into oil money indirectly.
Ms Margaret Ruhiigwa, the Hoima District Women Council Chairperson, advises women to engage in business activities that will enable them reap the oil money now and during the oil production phase.
She says women in Hoima should learn from their fellow who did not benefit from the money that oil development projects compensated them for the loss of their properties when their husbands denied them decision making on how to use it.
“Women have gone through serious suffering since oil and gas was discovered in the Albertine region. Some of them have been dumped by their husbands after receiving compensation money,” Ms Ruhiigwa advises.
The Hoima District Chairman, Mr Kadir Kirungi, notes that being endowed with fertile soils, Bunyoro can favour a variety of food crops that if well used; farmers can grow to feed workers in the oil industry.
He advises people with small pieces of land to use them productively citing poultry farming for both meat and egg production that will be consumed by oil workers.
