Butaleja rice farmers seek government assistance
Rice farmers in Butaleja district have reported that agricultural equipment donated by the Chinese government and the Ministry of Agriculture, worth over 7 billion shillings, has been idle for over two years. The donated machines, including harvesters, tractors, and rice millers, are now rusting, covered in dust, and left unused at the district headquarters. Local farmers, such as Yusuf Naleba, claim the machines are unsuitable for the swampy terrain in the area, as they are equipped with tires that sink in the mud, and they need machines with metal rollers. Farmers also face difficulties obtaining spare parts for the equipment and lack adequate training to operate it. Butaleja district officials have confirmed that the tractors are out of service and that the equipment's warranty has expired, making repairs difficult. Despite high expectations, the farmers are disappointed, as the equipment has not improved rice production or recovered the initial investments.
