Moyo farmers embrace agribusiness to lift them out of poverty

Highlights

• At least 925 farmers and businessmen in the rural and urban areas of Moyo district, were trained on financial disciplines in business

By Metedio Iceta

Moyo. For several years, RoseMary Limio, a farmer at Celecelea East village in Moyo town council has been engaged in farming. But she lacked the financial knowledge on how to keep records, manage finances and hence she would be thrown in losses seasonally.

RoseMary, who now appreciates the benefits of business skills, said this would enable her to know financial management for her farming activity.

“I have learnt that financial discipline is important because I was doing farming without any business knowledge. Sometimes I would make profits and losses. But I would not know how it came about and resolve the problems,” she said.

This comes after at least 925 farmers and businessmen in the rural and urban areas of Moyo district, were trained on financial disciplines in business under the Development Response to Displacement Impacts Project (DRDIP).

“I am now able to prepare a budget for the farming inputs. I used to waste money which should have generated profit for me. I will not be reckless with money now.”

The training was designed by Moyo district local government in partnership with Enterprise Uganda to provide farmers with basic practical management skills and knowledge to successfully start and enhance small businesses.

A businessman, Dramani Jackson, from Ramogi village, said: “I have realized that business cannot grow without networking with other customers or suppliers. This will reduce the financial burden of trying to get physical cash to purchase and supply the client.”

He said currently he imports goods from Lira and Kiryadongo and believes that he would grow the customer base.

The Executive Director Enterprise Uganda, Dr Robert Ocici, said: “You can start business with any resource. We need to bridge that gap of financial illiteracy and use money appropriately to help you move out of poverty.”

He added: “When electricity supplies, a good road network is done, it will remain your duty to produce in abundance and transport to the market easily. This will also cut costs for you.”

The Moyo district Chairperson, Anyama Williams, said: “To get out of poverty requires collective strategies and such training plays a pivotal role in transforming lives. Our farmers and businessmen should be engaged in more of the skills to change their mindset.”