The Government through the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) has donated 13 tractors and over 150 hand-held tractors and other agricultural implements to the West Nile sub-region.

The tractors are among the 326 hand-held single axle 16 HorsePower (HP) tractors and 28, 75 HorsePower (HP) units of tractors that the government has donated to West Nile, Lango and Acholi sub-regions to scale up agricultural mechanization and improve commercial farming.

Under the initiative, the hand-held tractors will be distributed one per subcounty to be managed by a selected Savings and Credit Cooperative Society (SACCO) for better management but will be used by the entire community in the sub-county.

While flagging off the handover of the tractors on Friday at Namalere Agricultural Referral Mechanization Centre, the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Nobert Mao who represented President Yoweri Museveni urged the benefiting districts to ensure value for money.

Meanwhile, Frank Tumwebaze, the minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries said the tractors target smallholder farmers especially those in organised farmer groups. Tumwebaze further noted that the tractors are meant to increase production and ensure food security in the three sub-regions.

Denis Hamson Obua, the Government Chief Whip, believes that the new tractors will go a long way in facilitating the implementation of the Parish Development Model (PDM) programme, the government’s last-mile strategy to lift about 3.5 million households in Uganda out of poverty by transforming them from subsistence to a money economy.

Joanne Aniku Okia, the Vice Chairperson West Nile Parliamentary Caucus and also the Woman Member of Parliament for Madi Okollo district says that they received twelve ‘walking tractors’ and they have resolved together with the district leadership to give the big tractor for Offaka Sacco in Offaka Sub County.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, the hand-held tractor can plough three acres of land using three litres of fuel per day and can also be used to pump water for irrigation.