RICNET AND SATNET LAUNCHES PLANT CLINICS IN THE RWENZORI REGION

For a very long time, farmers in the Rwenzori region have been affected by plant pests and diseases, coupled with their limited know how on how to identify the diseases and get medication for the plants, a greater threat is posed to food security in the region and Uganda as a whole since the Rwenzori region is the basket of Cassava, beans and an assortment of fruits in Uganda. To curb the plant pests and diseases, RICNET and SATNET, two non governmental organisations operating in the Rwenzori region with support from Global plant clinic have launched a series of plant clinics in the two districts bordering the Congo- Kasese and Bundibugyo.
The week long exercise saw five plant clinics launched two in Bundibugyo and three in Kasese. The two districts were chosen because they are the closest to the DRC where most plant diseases in the western region of Uganda come from.
The launch saw all five plan clinics furnished with basic equipment that would enable the smooth operation of the services. Each clinic received a Table, five chairs, one lab coat for the plant doctor to use while diagnosing the plants, hand lenses, a banner with the name of the clinic and the day I which it operates. The plant nurses were also provided with branded T-shirts so that the community would easily identify them. Each clinic also received a digital camera and resource material that the doctor and farmers would use for reference.

At the launch of the clinic in Kisinga Sub County, the county chief gave the program a good reception and pledged his support and that of the government to ensure the success of the project. He also expressed his heartfelt appreciation to the RICNET and SATNET for implementing the plant clinic program in his county. On his part, the Agricultural officer of Kisinga sounded a stern warning to the plant doctor of the area, he advised him to take good care of the equipment provided and never use it for personal purposes.
Mr. Erastus Ang’ienda the RICNET representative at the function advised the farmers to maximize the use of the plant clinics and better their food production, a sentiment which was also shared by Mr. Thaddeo Kahigwa, the SATNET representative who thanked the government for their support and pledged more support to the clinics in the future, he also asked the plant doctors to send pictures of plants with diseases they cant identify in the field for quick identification so that the remaining plants in the field can be saved.

With the kind of reception and support the plant clinic concept received during the launching ceremonies in the 5 centers, the fight against plant diseases has moved a notch higher and everyone’s prayer now is that at the end of it all, our plants are disease free because HEALTHY PLANTS… HEALTHY PEOPLE.