Information sharing key towards commercialization of Agriculture

Information sharing key towards commercialization of Agriculture. This was realized during the market information symposium held from 24th-25th at Kisinga play ground Kisinga sub county Kasese district. This was the second symposium of its kind in Uganda, it’s meant to bring buyers and farmers together. The symposium was co-organized by RIC-NET and KRC with support and funding form FIT Uganda and Agric-Pro-focus Uganda. The theme of the symposium was “promoting farmers entrepreneurship through the provision of sustainable market information services to enhance competitive trade”. Agric-Pro-Focus work with individuals, groups, companies and organizations like HIVOS, SNV and Oxfam working in the agriculture sector.

Around 600 farmers attended the symposium from within Kisinga which comprised farmers and groups The function too was attended by different farmers groups in Kasese [Rwenguhya farmers association dealing with fish farming, Kisinga community Sacco dealing with poultry and livestock,Maliba farmers association dealing with corona coffee,Bukonzo joint farmers dealing with processing coffee, which support farmers in sustainable agriculture, Snow Rural community association dealing in farming, Rwenzori integrated wildlife management which deals in fish farming, Babughirana cooperatives dealing in cassava farming], and individual farmers from within who had come to either buy or sell their products. Other farmers[groups and individuals were from; Kamwenge bee keepers association, Bunyangabo bee keepers from Kabarole, Masindi farmers association, NORAK from Bundibugyo District. Organizations which deal with information sharing were also represented like Bwera information center, Community Agriculture business capacity service [CABES] from Kabarole. There were also buyers represented by ESCO Uganda, Bakwanya Trading Company, William grain millers Quick service Supper market Fort portal and other companies from within and outside Uganda

The purpose of the symposium was to bring farmers and buyers together and share market information. Market information may include price information [trend of prices, current market price and the seasonal variations], information on buyers and offers in the market, weather; transport especially the fuel prices and means of transport. Other market information shared include on finance [agro- business loan and funding], production especially with data like quantity quality and standard. Transport information on list of buyers, distance and availability. The importance of market information is; helps to know how to plant, when, what and to who, do cost analysis, transform the lives of farmers. Market information helps farmers in decision marking Farmer’s voices were that there is inadequate ongoing market information, weather and climate have affected production, farm management methods are not used, and price and price fluctuations tend to frustrate farmers and leads to a negative attitude towards agriculture. However some members reiterated that the problem of farmers can still be handled by farmers themselves. Sometimes farmers still and wait for information. Mr. James Makundu a farmer in Kisinga mentioned that farmers can easily access information if “they form groups, society or cooperatives. We cannot wait for other people to come and unite us” Mr. Bonny Muthahinga a model farmer in Kiburara agreed with some farmers that there is need to intensify information sharing. “True farmers we don’t look for information, buyers should also help us with information of what should be produced and ongoing market prices.”

Farmers agreed that “information is a key for any successful farming”, farmers should develop the Vision towards Agriculture, do market research offers and prices, commercialize agriculture and make value of the service performed by members of the house hold in the farm. Ms Sarah Bogere a community worker mentioned that one problem is having large families. There is need for family planning [have few children]. Farmers should learn to budget for the families. Farmers also agreed to support and search for information to improve agriculture. Let us make agriculture more of business. Most people engage in crop product as life style that had be inherited from the great grandparents, this is a chance and let us use it wisely to commercialize what we produce by engaging in large scale production. I therefore call on all the stake holders [the government agriculture department at local level and national level, the community based organization, faith based organization] to intensify the provision of information to the farmer. Since Rwenzori region is the basket of food in Uganda, farming can be the other alternative to move away from poverty.

the effectiveness of the ICT based tools in teaching English

TRAINING OF TEACHERS OF ENGLISH IN INNOVATIVE METHODS……SUCCESSFUL Computers for schools (cfsu) RIC-NET have successfully completed a four days training of English teachers in improving effective teaching-learning processes through ICT enabled innovative methods. The training that started on 7th - 10th May 2012 attracted secondary school teachers from Kabarole and Kasese Districts involving schools of St.Leo’s college, Kyebambe Girls Rutete S.S and St.Charles Voc SS, St.Thereza Girls’ and Kilembe SS respectively. Bwera teachers’ college from Kasese also was presented for the work of preparing teachers who provide a foundation for learners in secondary schools. The training was facilitated by Stella Nekesa, ICT officer connect for change [CFSU] in charge of ICT tool development for learning. Lydia Kamba,incharge of development of training manual and development, John Silco ED RIC-NET ,in charge of general administration and implementation of the project and project spokesperson. Yosia Baluku,ICT officer RIC-NET and Charles Kaliba Outreach officer in charge of research and documentation.

The training was focusing on how to integrate the traditional methods of teaching English Language [chalk and talk] with use of ICT. [Focus on developing the skills of Teachers with ICT innovative methods of teaching that is expected to yield more results, at least 2 teachers of English from each selected School attended. The projects are being piloted in 6 schools and 2 teacher training colleges in Kasese and kabarole Districts. ICT based tools allows to create, store, display information in its form. Group discussions on the situation in schools as far as teaching English is concerned were conducted in the course of the training. Issues discussed were; problems faced in the teaching learning of English, methods of teaching English and how to handle the different abilities in class. A discussion on the 4 skills and how they’re applied in the teaching process [reading, speaking, listening and writing] were discussed whether they’re achieved at the end of the lesson? To be good teachers, it was discussed that one should possess the following; exploratory, assessment, competent, interactive and passion. The alternative learning methods include; Learning station method, Lexical approach, English circle method. Think-Pair share method. Grammar translations, Practice presentation and product, Phonic, Direct approach, Notional-functional approach. Task based learning, [from the traditional methods that have been used] ICT integration by using ICT tools which included [digital storytelling, teaching using pictures and cinema education].

Mr. John Silco took the participants through Cineduc [using movie and videos in education]. This is video education of about 15-30 min. the video can be stopped in between to allow discussion [stop video discussion]. The teacher may assign students certain characters in the video and allow each participant follow the video. The video can be used to test the 4 skills [listening, speaking, writing and reading].

Challenges that were raised as likely to affect the innovation were; Teachers may ignore the innovation after the training since it will be involving double preparation of the lesson. Teachers may fear challenges of students who may have a lot of skills in ICT than them. Ability to continue practicing may be hampered by scarcity of tools in schools. Attitude of teachers towards change.

CFSU Uganda also promised to offer Generators, Laptops, projectors, projector screens, speakers and also technical back up in case it is needed and also a continuous follow up and trainings at schools. The training ended on 10th May 2012 and teachers appreciated this initiative. They designed work plans for individual schools on what is going to be done as soon as the schools open and promised to be cooperative whenever called upon. the

way forward for Banana production in Rwenzori Region

Stakeholders deliberate on Banana Bacterial Wilt and improvement of Banana productivity in Rwenzori region.

Members from the Government and CSO’s in the Rwenzori region held a stake holders meeting to find the way forward on soil fertility and banana productivity in the region. The meeting was held at Kagote SDA church hall in Kabarole Municipality. Participants were drawn from Districts of Kasese, Kabarole, Ntoroko and Bundibugyo who included NAADS coordinators District Agricultural officer and Agricultural extension workers. Other was CSO’s working in these districts and RIC-NET was represented by the Community Outreach Officer.

The objectives of the meeting were; to characterize indigenous knowledge on banana management likely to influence banana yield, factors affecting agronomic practice of banana production, identify the effective sources of social capital to diffuse banana technology, develop a strategy that can enhance banana production in the region and highlight key policy issues that would require urgent intervention.

During the discussion the findings were that the region has fertile soils to support production, but management is limiting factor leading to poor disease and pest control,89.9% reported pest and diseases,43% of farmers reported Banana Bacterial will while 23%reported Banana weavil,there is poor attitude of farmers towards banana management form other enterprises like cocoa,maize,coffe and cotton, there is low access to technical information that that 32%of farmers access information while 68% do not really access information. However these farmers are complex and should be helped in the complex manner.
It was identified that the region has good fertile soils but has been hit by banana bacterial wilt which had affected banana production. A research had been conducted and found out that most people in the region at least eat Matooke a day. It was thus resolved that, Banana production be taken serious as an economic activity and be popularized like other cash crops. Market information should be availed to the farmers; Some NGO’s like KRC had conducted research and end up nowhere, because of lack of coordinated effort towards helping the farmers. The government department of agriculture should work closely with the CSO’s and other NGO’s to provide information to the farmers.

IS MPONDWE-LHUBIRIHA TOWN COUNCIL SAFE FROM CHOLERA

Mpondwe-lhubiriha Town council is one of the newly formed town councils in Kasese District. It borders DR Congo and Uganda. Before and during the early 1990s, Karambi and Bwera sub-counties which now form Mpondwe-Lhubiriha town council used to have no water supply until 1995 when a grant from Water Aid Danida came to save the situation with piped water tapped from the mountains of Rwenzori on River Lhubiriha.

This tapped water was used by the local people who were asked to pay Ush400 per month for the water systems maintenance. Until of recent in 2005 when water flow started becoming a problem in the areas of the present Mpondwe-lhubiriha town council, karambi and Bwera sub-counties.
All the water AID Danida systems are functional but No water flow. To the present there is no water supply in these areas. All the taps which were formerly constructed have turned out useless to the community due to lack of water supply.

Some of the taps in the mentioned areas which have turned out useless
River Lhubiriha
River Lhubiriha is the boundary of DR Congo and Uganda
People in the community now resorted to fetching water from the ancient River Lhubiriha which had been relied upon before the tapped water.
In the 1990s the river was so clean and was serving a less population of about 100 households.

Currently river serves over 2000 house hold both from Uganda and across Congo where Now the former Virunga National park in Congo is now over 60% occupied by Congo Nationals. Since Congo has no piped water, now all the households from both countries rely on River lhubiriha and another small water flow stream called River Kyabilho flowing through the Uganda boarder town. These community households rely on the two water streams for drinking, commercial and domestic use.

To my surprise, there are no policies governing the River usage from any of the two countries Congo and Uganda. The river is used to wash utensils, clothes, sewage disposal and all sorts of bad sanitary activities as you can witness below.

Congolese nationals miss using the river water
Now, the same people go ahead to fetch the water as others are contaminating it at the same time.

Here people miss-use the water directly as others are fetching from it.
Drinking water
In an interview with some of the locals who were fetching the water, majority of them said they quite often drink the water without boiling because they do not have fire wood or charcoal to waste on boiling water. While a few said they do boil or treat the water before taking.
A maizi marungi (Good water) programme
Recently a round 2009, there came a government aided programme called Amaizi marungi which promised to provide good water. These programmes came through the Town council establishment. This programme seems to have become a hell in the area, the water contractors have never finished laying the pipe line, and have ended up asking for a lot of corruption logistics from whoever wants to be connected to the water system.
Surprisingly, the water points built have ended up becoming decoration in the community and are rarely operational.

Some of the idle Amaizi marungi water points in Mpondwe-Lhubiriha Town council
This research was conducted only in Mpondwe-Customs areas, imagine the experience in other neighboring areas like Rusese, Mundongo and karambi which are far from the river.
I pause a question to all the people responsible for this field in Mpondwe-Lhubiriha town council, Karambi and Bwera sub-counties are these areas safe from cholera, dysentery and other bad water caused diseases?

information sharing boost farming in kyegegwa-uganda.

RIC-NET as an information center has been at forefront towards helping the farmers in the Rwenzori region. Some of the information provided includes, how to manage small scale plots for profitability, care for poultry and weekly Plant Clinic Refresher trainings have been organized to update the farmers on better practices of Agriculture.

Mrs. Leonida Byavilonda who works as community volunteer and a farmer in kyegegwa Town council and shared her happiness on how RIC-NET has helped her develop a poultry farm. Leonida explained that she got information from the center related to poultry keeping. [Care for chicken, preparing the shed, diagnosis of sick ones and market information. She was helped to network with other service provider like the kyegwegwa Veterinary officer. The information obtained was shared with other people in the village where she comes from. She also gets feedback from the farmers about poultry keeping and issues coming out from the villages.
Success trends.
Using the training she obtained knowledge and skills on poultry farming. Poultry keeping has improved as indicated below.
Number of Chicken kept since 2009-2011
Year. 2008 2009 2010 2011
Number of birds kept 20 44 100 120

Percentage change in the increase of poultry keeping according to Mrs.leonida.

Average Income level less expenses since the beginning of her activity
year 2008 2009 2010 2011
Average income per year. 50000 100000 150000 300000

This indicates that the more the chickens less expenses are incurred. The rate per chicken range from10000-15000 depending on the size and the quality. There has been great access to information through RIC-NET information point. Leonida also have been helping the community to provide knowledge on poultry keeping.
According to Ahebwa William, a farmer with Oranges, Pineapples and Mangoes, he explained that, RIC-NET provided him with information on how to plant, care for plant [best agricultural practices] of his fruits. He owns 10 acres of land.
Table showing planted area.
Plants. Oranges Mangoes pineapples
Quantity. 250 per tree 156 per tree 1500

Output for the past income for the past one year.
Plants Average Output per pant in 4 months Income Average income.
Oranges 5 basins 50000 12,500,000
Pineapples 1000 per fruit. 1,500,000
mangoes 4 basins 20000 3,120,000

Income is likely to double next year because the plants are going to yield more than this year.
The secret behind this is the proper care of the plants by using proper pesticides, manure and proper care of the field.
Advice to other small scale farmers.
- Networking with other information providers to get knowledge of business agriculture.
- Sharing skills and knowledge on crop production and animal husbandry.
- Engage in agriculture because of the benefits it has brought i.e. income to the family as well as food security.mr Ahebwa has been able to afford paying school fees for his 5 children, bought a motorcycle to coordinate his business and built a permanent house for his family. He has also cows that support his family with daily milk.Mrs leonida has afforded to provide Tuition fees for her Daughter at University

Activists attack government over ‘soft’ handling of corruption cases

Anti-corruption activists have expressed disappointment over what they described as government’s lack of good will and commitment to fight the vice. Speaking during the first Annual National Anti-Corruption Convention yesterday in Kampala, the activists criticized President Museveni for “his soft approach towards corrupt government officials”.
In a keynote address prepared by ACODE Executive Director Godber Tumushabe and read by NGO Forum’s Arthur Larok, the activists advised Ugandans to look elsewhere for solutions against corruption other than from government. “The Constitution should be reclaimed. The President has an opportunity to make announcements to unlock opportunities to fight corrupt,” Mr Tumushabe’s presentation read in part. Retired Supreme Court Judge George Kanyeihamba said corruption has created unrest in the minds of many Ugandans, saying a government of corrupt officials will not be in power for very long.
Courage
“Ugandans must have courage to speak up,” Justice Kanyeihamba said. He also appealed for “a list of shame” to be adopted by the media to publish the names of public officials involved in corruption.
Army MP Gen. Elly Tumwiine, also present at the meet, encouraged Ugandans to “ignore fear, intimidation” and “defend Uganda against corruption.” He caused laughter when he noted that just like HIV/Aids, many a times, corruption is conceived in secret.
Meanwhile, Western Youth MP Gerald Karuhanga, describing the state of corruption in government in a poem recital, said: “The behavior of our leaders in ungodly”. An academic, Prof. Mwambutsya Ndebesa, called for a shift in methodology of fighting corruption to performance-based accountability imposed on leaders. He called on Ugandans to perform their roles as citizens and not as subjects of a system.
Female Youth MP Monica Amoding laid blame on the last two generation of mothers who, she said, failed to instill virtues of honesty in the current crop of leaders. She said the biggest challenge lawmakers’ face is demand for money from their electorate.
jnjoroge@ug.nationmedia.com

CITIZENS OF RWENZORI REGION VOW TO FIGHT CORRUPT CIVIL SERVANTS.

Citizen Representatives of the Rwenzori region aired out their views on the on-going corruption in the country. This was during the Launching of Anti-Corruption week organized by Rwenzori Anti-Corruption Coalition [RAC] at Kagote SDA hall in Fort-Portal Municipality under the theme “A just and corrupt free society” with mission “to contribute to poverty reduction in the Rwenzori region by empowering citizens to expose and cause action against corruption”. RIC-NET is part of this fight against corruption through the program of Social Accountability.
The citizens showed their dissatisfactions on how; police fuel corruption by taking position in some cases, that even some cases in the community are not investigated for example the case in BUFUNGO sub county kyenjonjo where a couple killed each other, in some circumstance investigations are just minimal giving ground for the court to throw out cases, and police investigation favour the rich.
Similarly; the Judiciary favour special people e.g. Anti-corruption cases, Government also have been supportive of people close and or related to government officials or the president. Yet “Mr. Museveni talks about zero tolerance to corruption. Later when he went to Rwanda, he declared that his Government was surrounded by thieves”

“Justice delayed is justice denied”, the judiciary is no longer independent from the Government. This is evidenced in the cases the IPP or the IGG have taken to court and later withdraw cases due to lack of sufficient evidence. Why are the people involved in gross corruption left unpunished but those with cases of 1000 or less punished? Why is the government siding with the people engaged in mass corruption e.g. Hon.Muhwezi, Hon.Mbabazi? Other cases like Uganda Vs Mugabi Pius and two other Ref.IGG FP/CF/03/09.Does the government understand the citizen manifesto about combating corruption?