NAADS Passes Out 36 Tractor Operators At Namalele

36 operators were passed out on Friday, October 6, 2023 at Namalele Agricultural Research Centre. 

Presiding over the function was Dr. Samuel Mugaasi, Executive Director NAADS along side Engineer Ochan Joe, the Principal Executive Engineer -MAAIF.
Dr. Mugaasi made remarks and appreciated the trained operators for sacrificing and believing in government programs of providing job opportunities for the young people and the unemployed. He emplored the operators not to take what they have learnt for granted but to rather continuously use the skills acquired to better their lives.

Through MAAIF , Government intends to continue procuring more tractors and farm implements to support the local communities but  a strong feasibility study will have to be conducted to assess the impact of the equipment in the areas of the said beneficiaries.

All beneficiaries, ought to take good care of the equipment as away of accountability and also a tagline for livelihood improvement , Dr.Mugaasi added.

Engineering Solutions, the principal suppliers of TAFE tractors  and implements in Uganda who are now, the trusted partners to MAAIF/NAADS pledged to continue providing support through training and availing spare parts to the equipment supplied.

Fred Lukandwa, Service Manager at ENGSOL said, ‘we have supplied over 300 tractors with implements to gov’t and we aim to continue supporting each cluster and cooperative society/group in enabling excellent performance of the machinery which in return will alleviate poverty in the country.”

Agriculture remains the backbone of Uganda and according to UBOS report , Eighty Percent of Uganda’s land is arable but only 35% is being cultivated. In the FY21/22, agriculture accounted for about 24.1% of Domestic GDP, and 33% of export earnings. UBOS estimates that about 70% of Uganda’s working population is employed in agriculture.

Fred, also cautioned the operators and beneficiaries about the need to follow proper service schedules for the tractors, and the need to inform us regularly when the tractors have any issues  for thorough checks and advice. 

Most operators have a tendency of doing repair works for themselves which then nullifies the warranty support ENGSOL would then provide for the tractors supplied. Continuously, there is need for open communication between the beneficiaries and ENGSOL to allow better experience and support to happen.