COME TO OUR AID! FARMERS CRY OUT TO GOV’T OVER HIGH CHARGES ON BANK LOANS

By Aggrey Twesigye

www.mknewslink.com

In Mbarara

Farmers in Western Uganda have petitioned government to intervene and save them from the helm of exorbitant bank rate on agricultural loans.

While addressing Journalists in a press conference in Mbarara city, the chairman Mbarara Farmers voice Network Robert Kabatereine noted that they have been receiving reports from Farmers about banks that have threatened to confiscate their properties.

Kabatereine said that government allocated money to Uganda Development Bank which was to help farmers in rejuvenating their agriculture status but surprisingly farmers have not been sensitized on how to access that money.

He however asked the government to institute a committee that will check and monitor the activities of commercial banks.

He further challenged government institutions such as Dairy Development Authority (DDA) that issues licenses to dairies and cooler owners but fail to monitor their operations.

Kabatereine noted that dairy and cooler owners use formalin to treat milk which distorts the quality of milk and even putting the lives of people at stake.

Kabatereine challenged Uganda crane creameries cooperative union (UCCCU) a government Institution that looks after all cooperative unions in Uganda but has chosen to neglect farmers in times when they have been overshadowed by investors.

Kabatereine however thanked the government of Uganda through the ministry of Animal husbandry  that has moved to create zones a bid to fight animal diseases such as ticks.

He however called upon the government of Uganda to give allow  ministry of Animal husbandry supply Acaracides to Farmers instead of National Drugs Authority (NDA) that has forgotten its role.

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