yesterday I heard on radio a minister delivering hand hoes (either as a gift to the poor farmers in her constituency or on government program). the women ululated and danced and clapped and I am sure the donor was beaming with satisfaction at generosity to the poor folks receiving the donation. Ugandans who have used a hand hoe know how time consuming the tool is as a tool of production. it is the reason why young people do not want to associate with agriculture. it is not only time consuming, but also back breaking. and worse still the "entrepreneur" does not get paid worth their labor and other costs of production. to all right thinking Ugandans: how long should our folks continue supplying us food using a hand hoe and at prices below costs of production? and why should those in power continue thinking that Ugandan farmers (call them peasants) must 20years down the year 2000 still be backbreaking with this obsolete tool? in 1966 the agriculture ministry had started providing appropriate hand tools that could be drawn by oxen to aid ploughing, planting, seeding, weeding. where did that technology vanish too? meanwhile those in privileged position keep moving with technology (I mean doing their work with the most recent tools available: computers, recent car brands, latest in furniture at the office, name it). I think farmers should start a revolution against enslavement by both the "market forces" and their government. continuing in servitude isn't fair at all.
my opinion
