Mpigi District Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), Ms. Edith Namayega, expressed appreciation for the efforts of the National Farmers’ Leadership Centre (NFLC) in prioritizing Muyira Parish for government-funded training. She promised to closely monitor the progress of the farmers who participated in the training.
Ms. Namaiga emphasized the importance of self-reliance, urging the community to revive the spirit of self-help (Bulungi bwansi) and unity, as government resources are limited. She encouraged farmers to join programs such as the Uganda Intergovernmental Fiscal Transfers (UgiFT) to benefit from government irrigation initiatives and to reach out to district offices for any necessary support. She also advised against land fragmentation and encouraged the adoption of a saving culture.
In his speech, the NFLC Principal thanked the Korean government for supporting the NFLC II project. He urged Muyira farmers to be role models, not just in production but in monetizing their efforts. He also highlighted the importance of physical fitness for productivity and encouraged self-help in maintaining homesteads and roads.
The National Farmers’ Leadership Centre (NFLC) is dedicated to training farmer leaders, civic and political figures, extension workers, and other stakeholders in national development, focusing on Mindset Change and sustainable commercial agriculture. Since its inception, the NFLC has trained over 9,000 Ugandans, primarily targeting individuals already participating in the money economy, which represents 69% of Ugandans according to UBOS. However, less emphasis has been placed on the remaining 39% not yet engaged in the money economy.
With government support through the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries, NFLC is working to bring more Ugandans into the money economy by providing mindset training for farmers. Through NFLC Project II, a Training Needs Assessment (2022) identified coffee and banana farming as key enterprises in Muyira Parish. As a result, training programs have been organized for 100 farmers from the parish, split into two cohorts of 50, focusing on those cultivating at least one acre of these crops.
The training aims to improve NFLC’s image, strengthen community relations, promote commercialization, and transfer modern agricultural technologies, ultimately improving household incomes and driving socio-economic transformation.
Training Objectives:
- Promote a business-oriented mindset among coffee and banana farmers.
- Provide management skills for enhanced coffee and banana production.
- Build a foundation for future Parish Development Model (PDM) interventions.
- Raise awareness of NFLC training programs in surrounding communities.
