SPECIALISATION in agriculture is the way forward for the country says Agriculture Minister Augustine Auga.
Speaking last week during the signing of the Rural Development Project (RDP) phase two, Minister Auga said, there has been a significant shift in the way extension services are provided under RDP1.
“It is definitely clear that specialisation in agriculture is the way forward to be more industry focused and market linking,” Auga said.
Hea dded agriculture is the backbone of the country’s economy therefore it is vital for this country to work hard and invest more resources into this sector to assist rural farmers.
“It is welcoming to see farmers and communities benefiting from services provided under the RDP project.”
Adding, services like trainings on livelihood, food crops, cash crops and livestock development which benefited many farmers and communities throughout the country.
He said, RDP do not only benefit rural farmers and communities but also strengthen the ministry of agriculture and livestock(MAL) in its capacity to deliver the most need services to small holders and the communities.
“Let us work together with MAL to further strengthen the capabilities of MAL to be more responsive to private sector and market demands in RDP2,” he added.
He said, it is his hope that this next phase of the project will build on the successes of the previous phase (RDP1) to assist farmers to engage in productive partnerships with commercial enterprises and build MAL’s capacity to deliver its core functions of regulation, research and sector coordination.
“It is my wish that whatever programmes we develop, the target audience which is the rural people must receive the full benefits destined for them,” Minister Auga highlighted.
Meanwhile Auga thanked RDP’s donor partners the World Bank, Australian government, International Fund for Agriculture Development and the national government for recognising the importance of rural smallholder developments in the country.
Auga believes RDP2 will have a huge positive impact on the agriculture sector through job creation, improving livelihoods and boosting economic growth.
By DANIEL NAMOSUAIA
