Uganda: Bulambuli gets Shs800 million for Irish potato research

According to the Minister for Energy and Mineral Development, Ms Irene Muloni, the money is meant for Irish potato research at the institute as government moves to promote commercial farming and enhance food security at household level.Addressing residents of Bulambuli at Buginyanya Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute on Sunday, Ms Muloni said the district is to start growing apples and improved potato varieties in an effort to address the widespread poverty resulting from over reliance on coffee as the only cash crop."Most of our traditional farmers and indeed all farmers in general, find themselves trapped in a deep-seated failure to transform their farming activities into profit-spinning enterprises.

 This is an area we must work on to change our farmers," said Ms Muloni.She revealed that she lobbied for the money from government to cater for the new variety of Irish potatoes under the institute for Bugisu and Sebei sub-regions.Dr William Wogoire, the director of Buginyanya Zonal Agricultural Research Institute, said they have picked and tested samples of Irish potatoes against viruses and bacteria and that they have got improved seeds to distribute to farmers.He said they have trained farmers in multiplication of improved seed and that they are already distributing it to local farmers in Bulambuli, Sironko and Kapchorwa districts.