Rukungiri Receives 900 Bags of Organic New Earth Manure

Rukungiri: Rukungiri District has received 900 bags of Organic New Earth (O.N.E) Manure, for distribution to farmers under a government programme implemented through the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries.

Each bag contains 50 kilograms, with the government covering 70 percent of the cost while beneficiary farmers are expected to contribute 30 percent, equivalent to 54,000 shillings per bag.

However, the official guidelines on where and how farmers will make the payment are yet to be communicated by the ministry.

Rukungiri District LC 5 Chairperson Katebire Andrewson Charles has welcomed the programme but appealed to the government to consider reducing the farmers’ contribution, saying 54,000 shillings could be too much for some farmers to afford.

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Speaking during the handover of the manure at the district headquarters, Deputy Resident District Commissioner Wilberforce Ahimbisibwe Ongom urged farmers to use the manure properly and follow instructions on its application.

Ahimbisibwe also called on agricultural extension workers to ensure that farmers are trained on how to use the manure, rather than simply distributing it.

Meanwhile, Karembe Mbabazi, the Principal Consultant at Dei-Bio Pharma, said the programme follows a government directive to provide fertilizers to farmers engaged in coffee, tea, cocoa and horticultural production.

Mbabazi said ONE manure is intended to improve soil fertility and that extension workers in Rukungiri and other beneficiary districts will be trained to guide farmers on its proper use.

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