President Yoweri Museveni has called on the youths in particular and the country at large to engage in commercial agro-production and value addition as a means to eradicate household poverty.
“Food production only for the stomach is not good. You must have income for yourselves. In all that you do, you must work with good calculations. I want to support the youth groups of Karamoja by donating to them flour mills and enable the production of animal feeds. This will assure us of value addition,” he noted.
The President made the call during a meeting with a delegation of youths and elders from the Sub-Regions of West Nile, Acholi, Lango, Karamoja and Teso who called on him at State House, Entebbe on Thursday.
Mr. Museveni encouraged the Karamoja members in the delegation, in particular, to cultivate fruits such as oranges, mangoes and grapes observing that these can do well in their Sub-Region. He assured them that the NRM Government is fully committed to providing communal valley dams adding that the long-term target is to enable each home to have its own water.
He was optimistic that under this arrangement, the zero-grazing efforts to promote dairy production would be fruitful. The President called on people in the Sub-Regions to strive and actualize value addition on various agro-products targeting the export market. He urged Teso Sub-Region to exploit the opportunities offered by the fruit processing plant in their area, noting that the plant has not been fully utilized due to insufficient supply of fruits.
He added that some farmers have produced the type of oranges not suitable for juice extraction. The President, therefore, directed agricultural officials to work closely with the community in ensuring good quality suitable fruit breeds. the President used the occasion to urge Acholi Sub-Region to also fully embrace dairy production activities because their area has abundant water resources.
Meanwhile, Mr. Museveni advised his visitors to take leadership seriously and elect people who are dedicated to the promotion of interests and needs of communities. He further reminded them that the role of leadership entails showing the electorate the way and to deliver services.