Gulu District has received 14,000 hand hoes from the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) in a move aimed at strengthening household agricultural production and improving livelihoods.
The Gulu District L.C V Chairperson, Christopher Opiyo Ateker, confirmed that the farming tools will be distributed next week to organized farmer groups, former LRA combatants, and war survivors across all 11 sub-counties in the district.
According to Ateker, the initiative is part of government efforts to increase food and cash crop production at household level, ultimately addressing food insecurity and poverty in the region.
He emphasized that access to basic farming tools remains critical for many rural families who depend entirely on subsistence agriculture.
“This support is intended to empower communities to actively utilize their land and improve productivity,” Ateker said, adding that government expects to see a rise in both food availability and household incomes.
However, the donation comes at a time when many farmers are increasingly calling for mechanized farming equipment such as tractors, which are faster and capable of cultivating larger portions of land.
Agricultural experts note that vast tracts of land across the Acholi sub-region remain underutilized due to limited access to tractors and modern farming machinery.
Despite this challenge, district leaders believe the hand hoes will provide immediate relief to vulnerable households while broader discussions on agricultural mechanization continue.
