NAADS starts distribution of 2.5 million hand hoes

A new phase of the countrywide distribution of hand hoes is underway to deliver 2.5 million to smallholder farmers.

 

The exercise, which started last week, is part of President Yoweri Museveni’s 2015 pledge to provide 18 million hoes to six million households to boost food production.

 

The supply of hoes is envisaged to boost food security and incomes for small landowners in Uganda, who may not have access to farm machinery.

 

A total of 420,000 hand hoes were procured and distributed in the financial year 2016/17 and another 800,000  in 2018/19.

 

Under the current 2020/21 budget, Parliament appropriated sh30b for the procurement and distribution of 2,500,000 hand hoes, whose distribution is underway.

 

The programme is being spearheaded by the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS). By Sunday (June 6, 2021), the distribution exercise in Karamoja sub-region had been completed.

 

The exercise is also underway in West Nile and Teso sub-region, according to Khadija Nakakande, the head of communication and public relations at NAADS.

 

“Our targets are the vulnerable households in rural areas that have low access to farm inputs. We expect them to use the hoes mainly to grow food for consumption, but gradually move into commercial production,” Nakakande explained.

 

Initially, one hoe was distributed to each household, but the number was later increased to two. The criteria for allocation of the hand hoes to households examine three parameters - population size, land area and poverty levels.

 

However, the allocation formula also takes into account affirmative action considerations, such as the level of farming activities in the respective localities, food insecurity, among others.

 

According to Nakakande, Busoga sub-region will be the next to benefi t from the next phase of the distribution exercise in the coming financial year.

 

Agriculture remains the mainstay of Uganda’s economy and currently employs over 70% of the population, and contributing about 24.9% to the national Gross Domestic Product.

 

At least 95% of agriculture in Uganda is attributed to rural smallholder farmers. Although the distribution of hoes was initially met with skepticism, Nakakande said the programme has enabled many beneficiaries to increase farm acreage.

 

Authorities have, however, advised households not to sell off the hoes supplied to them, but to instead use them for production.