Ministry of Agriculture launches knowledge and skilling show for young people

continuous knowledge transfer and skilling of young people

Ministry of Agriculture launches knowledge and skilling show for young people

Agriculture Ministry appeals to the general public to participate in the first ever educational show.

While addressing the media in Kampala on Thursday, the state Minister for Agriculture, Animal industry and Fisheries Fred Bwino Kyakulaga urged the general public to support young people in their Agricultural education show that will be held at the National Agriculture show grounds in Jinja.

According to Kyakulaga, youth un-employment is one of the major socio-economic policy challenges facing the country’s economic growth and development currently and unless it is addressed, it will peg back Uganda’s ambition to reduce poverty and to attain a middle income status by 2030.

The Agricultural education show this year will be held under the theme “Farming for a prosperous future” and it will take place on June 8th-12th 2022

This event is to provide a platform for continuous knowledge transfer and skilling of young people through practical demonstrations, trainings and youth innovation competitions plus youth in agriculture oriented policy dialogues” Kyakulaga added.

The Ministry of Agriculture together with the Education Ministry have patterned with UNFFE that has an experience of about 30years with a mandate of mobilizing, organizing and empowering farmers in Uganda to attract, retain and promote young people below 39years in Agriculture.

According to the latest statistics from the Uganda Population Council, Uganda has one of the youngest and most rapidly growing population in the world and according to the MAAIF there is need now more than ever to have entry of young people in the Agricultural sector.

The Minister also highlighted that this event is aimed at providing a coordinated platform for harnessing the interest and use of ICT based innovative digital tools by young people, providing a platform for promoting multi stakeholder partnerships and interventions that support young people in Agriculture, providing a platform for promotion of family farm succession and also providing a platform for other stakeholders to showcase their work with the youth.

This five day event that is also aimed at strengthening youth main streaming and youth policy implementation at all levels will be officiated by the first lady Janet Kataha Museveni the current Minister of Education.

According to George Mutekanga a commissioner in the Ministry of Education, this National Agricultural Show will involve youth from Universities, tertiary institutions, Secondary schools, Primary schools across the country and also officials from NARO and NAGRIC.

We shall also have exhibitions on new innovations of Agriculture, essay writing competitions, school debate and quiz competitions plus dialogues with financial institutions government institutions and agencies” Mutekanga added.

The commissioner also highlighted that the entrance fee for the public will be 3,000 UGX per head and urged them to flock in huge numbers come 8th this June.