Abstract:
Bugiri District Farmers Association is a non-government farmers group under Uganda National Farmers Federation that aims at conservation agriculture and empowering farmers with modern technologies to improve their income to sustain their way of living.
The industrial training at Bugiri District Farmers Association attempted to provide me with skills, field practice, office work and experience to enhance me with the theoretical knowledge that is learnt in class and even outside class. Therefore, my objectives were to acquaint myself with;
• The various crop husbandry practices and get hands on experience on crop management skills
• The various crop varieties and different tree species in Uganda and outside Uganda
• Crop diseases their signs, symptoms, and control,
• Method of pest control used by farmers in their different enterprises,
• Weed management or control method,
• Hatchery and poultry management and various practices done in poultry management, Knowledge on how I can manage seeds under local seed business among others.
The training revealed that some of the theory taught in class slightly differs from what is practically done in the field, for example very many management practices are done both on crops and trees as applied in the field, The obvious ones that are observed include, nursery preparation, seed bed or land preparation, fertilizer or manure application, weed management, pest and disease management among others allowing crops to grow comfortably as well as proper yielding of the crops.
The training also revealed that production and management in any are two different broad activities which must move hand in hand for any farm to get the expected profits or even more. Production and management require a lot of hard work sacrifice dedication and determination.
It is therefore recommended that more crop husbandry officers should be trained to guide and advise farmers who are facing hardships in production and management.