Farmers in Bugisu sub region have asked government and financial institutions operating in the region to establish an effective platform to disseminate information on Agricultural loans and products. Sam Waburoku, a farmer from Clear Uganda, a farmers' organization says most farmers in the region are ignorant about the agricultural loans, products and how to access them.
He claims that in most cases the financial institutions tend to consider the well-to-do farmers especially the working class and leave out the small-scale farmers. He accordingly appealed to the district local governments to intervene, mobilize farmers and link them these banks so as all farmers interested in the loans irrespective of what they are, are able to freely access the loans.
Waburoku was early this week speaking at the Mbale-Uganda Agri- Finance Marketplace exhibition held at Maluhku grounds.
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Esau Gudoyi, a coffee farmer from Bufumbo claims that most banks attached too much bureaucracy on the Agricultural loans making it difficult for farmers to access the loans. He appeals to them to loosen a bit so as farmers can benefit from the development. Modester Shisa, the Managing Director Busiu SACCO however advised the farmers to join the SACCOs within their areas saying they are the best alternative for their financial support.
She also appealed to the government to consider channeling some of its development funds like the Agricultural loans, the youth funds to the well-established SACCOs in the country for easy access. He says some banks are too bureaucratic making it difficult for the beneficiaries to benefit from some of these projects.
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John Kalemba, the Manager Med-Net, a financial institution, Mbale branch advises the farmers to switch from subsistence to commercial farming if they are to benefit from these loans and their products.
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Bernard Mujasi, the Mbale District LC V chairpersonsays tht the district has now embarked on improving the large scale farming scheme through the NAADS project and other government initiatives.
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