THE POWER OF INFORMATION SHARING.

RIC-NET joined the rest of AgroPri Focus team for the Market Day Event in Fort Portal town from the 15^th to 16^th August 2013. The objectives of the event were; to increase the access of farmers to information, products and services available in the market, encourage farmers use of friendly products in the farmers, promote farming as a viable investment for financial.RIC-NET in addition to the above was promoting the need of Plant Pests and Disease control by encouraging farmers to constantly visit the Market Day Plant Clinics. 

Farmers were assisted by Ms. Biira Constance and Mr. Asaba Wilberforce trained Plant Doctors with CABI, MAAIF and Makerere University.

 

RIC-NET for the past 2 years has championed Plant Clinic activities using her in-house resources. This has helped farmers cope with the increasing Pests and Diseases that have been attacking their crops in the gardens as well as after harvesting. Some of the most affected plants were cassava, maize and cocoa which are commonly grown in the region. 

 RIC-NET stall offered series of information to different categories of people. These included farmers, students, local government staff, business people and other members of the public. Much of the information sought was on Plant Pest and Disease control that is being operated by Our Plant Doctors, Market information and Agriculture crop growing methods.

 Community members who visited our stall at the APF market Place event from 15^th -16^th August 2013

Farmers			Students			LG staff			Business       people			Other exhibitors			Others
	M	f		M	F		M	F		M	F		M	F		M	F
92	53	39	47	27	20	17	10	07	23	14	09	41	24	17	42	31	11

Other demand was in market linkages to credible buyers who are willing to offer a fair price. Farmers’ voices were that more Plant Doctors are needed to visit their farms to provide on sight remedies to the problems on their farms as it was done towards the prevention of BBW.

Closing the event, the Area MP Hon Alex Ruhunda thanks the CSO members for their work towards transformation of agriculture by providing timely and relevant information to the farmers. He encouraged the farmers and other people that had attended to use the information available to improve farming for investment and business.