



Mayuge hub comprises of the districts of Mayuge, Bugiri and Namayingo. Previously, the project had registered 3,435 potential farmers (F=21%) who pledged 5,280 ha for the establishment of oil palm. In Mayuge hub, 1,793.99 ha is now re-surveyed, for 4-point coordinates, for 2,225 farmers. From the 1,792.99ha smallholders’ land surveyed. The farmers in Buwaaya and Mpungwe Sub Counties have so far prepared 116 ha to for planting oil palm on-going activities include: Lining/pegging, and holing in preparation for planting.
In addition, BIDICO /OPBL Agro-industries have expanded their operations to plant 5,000 hectares of oil palm under smallholder outgrowers in Mayuge bringing the total to 12,500ha (5,000ha nucleus + 2,500ha in Buvuma and 5.000ha in Mayuge). So far 78 farmers have prepared (lined and holed) 55.4 hectares (8,866 holes) to start planting oil palm starting in March 2024 first rains season in Buwaaya and Mpungwe Sub Counties.","In terms of institutional development, each District will have a primary Cooperative and a secondary Co-operative/Union will be formed in the later stages, at the hub level. The primary co-operatives in each district will provide both financial and material services to the oil palm farmers. In Namayingo and Bugiri District, mobilisation of surveyed farmers for the formation of primary cooperatives was conducted. An interim leadership committee was elected in each district with representatives from all the sub-counties with suitable land for oil palm production.
In the reporting period, the progress made includes single-sourcing the service provider, with process at the Solicitor General stage for contract approval – the contract signing is expected in February 2024, upon which the attendant Withdrawal Application shall be submitted. Listing of potential beneficiaries is proceeding and thus far; Mayuge (1,017 farmers with 776 Ha), Bugiri (405 farmers with 323 Ha) and Namayingo (199 farmers with 185 Ha). The baselines were to be established by mid-February 2024. For effective management of the grant, an implementation plan was drawn up and task forces within the implementing DLGs proposed – Mayuge, Namayingo and Bugiri DLG have already instituted their team.