The Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Frank Tumwebaze while in Kiruhura district on 29th June 2022 flagged off the distribution of 540 In-Calf heifers to youth leaders across the country in fulfilment of President Museveni’s pledge.
President Museveni in 2021 pledged heifers to the youth leaders across the country through the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS).
President Museveni through this heifer project wanted to support and economically empower the country’s youth to develop themselves and also tackle the issue of searching for white-collar jobs, which are currently scarce.
The NAADS secretariat says it’s working with the Youth MPs to roll out the project in a phased manner based on the availability of funds.
“In this regard, the NAADS secretariat has procured 540 heifers targeting 540 youth leaders in 135 District Local Governments (DLGs), 11 Cities and 56 Municipalities,” an official statement read.
In each district and city, three people on the youth council were selected to benefit and these include the chairperson of the District/city youth council, the secretary for Finance and the secretary for Women affairs.
The secretariat has already conducted a sensitization and training drive for youth beneficiaries in dairy cattle management.
The training was aimed at equipping the youth leaders with the necessary knowledge, skills and information required to effectively manage dairy cattle projects as well as to orient their mindset towards farming as a business.
While officiating at one of the trainings for the youth leaders from Ankole and Kigezi region that took place at Mbarara Zonal Agricultural Research Development Institute, the Executive Director NAADS Dr. Samuel K. Mugasi implored the youth leaders to seize the opportunity given to them by government to demonstrate to others how youth can make farming as a business and how farming can be of relevancy to their livelihood.
There were training for the youth leaders countrywide which was organised at eight centers across the country including Mbarara which brought together youth from Ankole and Kigezi, Fort Portal for Rwenzori and Bunyoro, Namulonge Research Institute in Wakiso for central region, Tororo for Bugisu and Bukedi, Mayuge for Busoga region, Soroti for Teso and Karamoja, Arua for West Nile and Lira for Lango and Acholi.
With the Parish Development Model in high gear, projects like these will help the youth to engage in farming and empower themselves economically.