Government has established Uganda Shillings 317 Million multi-purpose grain storage facility in Ongongoja Sub County Katakwi district.
The facility was constructed with support from Local Economic Growth Support project (LEGS) and the Islamic Development Bank to which Uganda has been a member since 1975.
Speaking during the launch Vice President Jessica Alupo applauded the Ministry of Local Government, the implementers of LEGS project for extending such facilities to Teso region.
She noted that one of the challenges that Uganda’s agriculture faces is the absence of safe and accessible storage facilities to handle large volumes of produce for aggregated storage.
The project overall goal is to contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable development goals, especially those related to eradication of poverty through development of water resources for irrigation and consumption.
It also seeks to increase incomes of small rural farmers by boosting agricultural production and productivity.
She further asked the locals to promote growing of citrus fruits.
Alupo finally encouraged the locals to use the prevailing peace and security to continue cultivating their land, planting trees but also avoid burning of bushes as the practice worsens the environmental in the region.
Raphael Magyezi, the Local Government Minister in his remarks said LEGS project is financing construction and rehabilitation of water supply schemes for households and agricultural production countrywide.
He noted that in Katakwi district the project has rehabilitated Ngariam-Palam-Ising 13km road, construction and equipping of the Ocorimongin Rice processing plant and financing Palam fruit farmers cooperative with a capacity of sh50m under the rural financing component.
He noted that they plan to construct Agule mini-irrigation scheme and technical designs are underway adding work will commence by March.