UN, Norway Boost Cattle Farmers
NORWAY - The Norwegian government and the United Nations Development Programme have earmarked $4m (about sh4.4b) to combat desertification in six cattle corridor districts.The three-year project to kick-off this year, will be implemented in Ssembabule, Lyantonde, Nakasongola, Nakaseke, Kaliro and Kamuli districts, reports TheNewVision.
The funds will be used to train farmers on sustainable land management, according to Stephen Muwaya, the Uganda’s focal point officer for United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification.
“The project will also focus on issues of land degradation, soil erosion control mechanisms and good land practices,” said Muwaya. He was speaking during a workshop at Hotel Equatoria in Kampala recently.
According to TheNewVision, Hope Mwesigye, the agriculture minister, who opened the workshop asked scientists to invent technologies, which rural farmers can embrace without entirely cutting down the forests for firewood.
“Before we draft laws to punish farmers engaged in deforestation, we need to expose them to alternatives, which they can embrace as opposed to burning charcoal,” urgued Mwesigye.
TheCattleSite News Desk