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Dokolo, (UG):- A total of 24 Youth groups in Dokolo District are fundraising 20 million Uganda shillings to acquire machines for mixing animal feeds to boost their production.
The over 700 youth were trained at Gudie Leisure Farm (GLF), a social enterprise transforming youth agripreneurs into proactive, planned, predictable, and profitable eco-entrepreneurs. GLF trained the youths in poultry, aquaculture, piggery, and horticulture among others.
The youth groups’ leaders say they want to purchase the feed mills to help them manufacture feeds in the district.
Dokolo South Member of Parliament, Hon Felix Okot Ogong, donated one million shilling to support the youth group during a fundraising drive held recently at Angwecibange Primary School in Dokolo district. A total of 4.2m was collected during the event from invited guests.
The MP urged the youth to change the society they are in by taking the initiative to solve problems around them.
“I would strongly urge every young person who is here to join a youth group. Today’s youth have the power to make a huge positive change in their environment. By making small sustainable lifestyle choices, they can have an impactful life,” he said.
Mr Okot also advised the youths to develop a culture of hard work that will transform them into responsible citizens.
In her message to the young people of Dokolo District, Ms Gudula Naiga Basaza, managing director of Gudie Leisure Farm celebrated Dokolo district youths for the wonderful work that they are doing for Uganda and urged them to accelerate what they are doing so that it becomes bigger and gives better rewards in a shorter time.
“We are moving into what we call processing meaning we go into mechanization. So a feed mill that we are aiming for is one of the technologies that will boost our production. We believe that with a feed mill, we should be able to process and sell finished materials that fetch us more money,” she said.
Innocent Opio, the chairperson of Abucera Youth Group in Amwoma Sub-county with 300 active and currently dealing in poultry as a business appreciated Gudie Leisure Farm for training them that has seen their lives changing positively.
Opio noted that they have saved so far 600000/= in their VSLA which is shared among members in need of financial support and it reduces begging among members. He called on youths not to sit back, but take interest in the existing farming opportunities.