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Prof. Florence Muranga laying a foundation stone where the collection centre will be constructed as Sheema RDC Purikeria Muhindo(R) and Shuuku Town council Mayor Boaz Biziira (C) look on.
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Banana commonly known as Matooke is a staple food in Uganda that holds significant economic importance for rural farmers and Sheema is among the major banana producing areas in Ankole sub-region.
On Wednesday, the director general of the Presidential Initiative on Banana Industrial Development (PIBID) Prof. Florence Mulanga launched the construction of a banana collection centre in Shuuku Town council, Sheema municipality with a call to farmers to grow more bananas for increased household income.
‘’This is a pregnant moment for all who have been in this enterprise to see that we come to this foundation stone which is a cornerstone in streamlining the supply chain for the banana industry. The model for this is that we shall give tractors to farmers to deliver their produce here, they will be received, weighed and divested’’. Prof. Muranga stated while unveiling the foundation stone.
Muranga said they will put in place an information centre which will be releasing the prices for the different markets to farmers and that this will guide them (farmers) on which decisions to take.
‘’One of the objectives the government started PIBID for is that the farmer should be empowered with correct information about markets’’. She explained.
The collection centre will be a subsidiary to a Nyaruzinga based factory in Bushenyi district designed to process bananas into value-added products for both local and export markets.
Workers at Nyaruzinga factory in Bushenyi district preparing Banana fingers for processing.
According to Prof. Muranga, the farmers will be initiated on an insurance scheme that intends to protect them from climate related catastrophes that have disadvantaged them.
‘’Just like you have seen changes that we get rain and sunshine not in desired quantities but whatever comes hits hard and this has taken away the pride of farmers engaged in different enterprises. So, the insurance scheme to bring hope to farmers that they have where to begin from in case of a disaster’’. She pointed out.
The scheme with support from UNDP climate change fund, according to Prof. Muranga intends to benefit more than 1000 farmers across the district.
Under the scheme, farmers who will fall victims of disasters like floods, storm, wind and drought among others will be given money to compensate what will have been lost.
Boaz Biziira, the Shuuku town council LC3 chairperson welcomed the initiative saying it will benefit rural farmers and entrepreneurs, leading to increased household income.
