The Nakaseke North legislator Enoch Nyongore has called on the government to move swiftly to address aflatoxins to save farmers from heavy losses on their produce. He wonders why government is looking on while Farmers suffer with aflatoxins in ignorance.
The sight of a farmer’s hard work going to waste has become all too common. Every year, aflatoxins cause immense losses to Uganda’s farmers due to inadequate storage of harvested crops. Now, Member of Parliament Enoch Nyongore is calling on the government to take action.
Nyongore, himself a passionate farmer and a member of the parliamentary committee on Agriculture, has urged the government to provide farmers with access to the necessary tools to combat aflatoxins. He noted that during the committee’s visit to parts of eastern and northern Uganda, as well as a visit to agriculture lab at Gulu University, it was found that many farmers are unaware of how to store their food after harvest.
Nyongore believes that the responsibility of quality assurance falls on the government, not the farmers. He believes that the lack of education among farmers as to how to fight aflatoxin is due to the lack of effort from agricultural extension officers in raising awareness. He urged the government to take the initiative and send extension officers to educate farmers on how to handle food after harvest.
one of the main causes for food becoming contaminated with aflatoxins is the storing of harvest on wet ground, and Nyongore advised farmers to avoid this. He also noted that food production in Uganda is high, however the methods used to store the produce are not up to standard.
Nyongore’s plea to the government shows a commitment to ensuring that farmers are equipped with the knowledge and tools needed to protect their investments. In order for Uganda’s agricultural industry to flourish.
