Author: National Ploughing Association

NPA Ugandan Agriculture Scholarships Proved To Be A Real Success Story

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The National Ploughing Association is delighted that the two farmers, Julius Itiakorit and Solomon Ajak from the Mbale VIVA* Co-op in eastern Uganda whom the NPA funded to attend the prestigious Baraka Agricultural College in Kenya, thrived in the experience.   They proved to be star pupils who have excelled in their studies.

On completion of the course in Sustainable Agriculture & Rural Development the farmers have returned home to work the land and are using their new knowledge to greatly help their local community.

The 16 month course, which commenced in the Baraka Agriculture College educated the two students to be efficient, sustainable farmers, trainers of others and facilitators of development in their communities.

NPA Managing Director Anna May McHugh said “The Ploughing Association are delighted to have been in a position to fund these students to the total cost of €5,000, which covered their academic course fees,

accommodation, food and travel. This is an incredibly worthwhile cause and one very close to the NPA’s core ploughing and sustainable farming values. Both of the students Julius and Solomon, are very impressive and since they graduated from the course they are now empowered with new knowledge and expert techniques to assist themselves and their neighbours.”

Uganda Agri-Business fact finding delegation visit Ireland lead by the Ugandan Minister for Agriculture, Animal and Fisheries, Mr. Vincent Ssempijja

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The Ugandan Honorary Consul to Ireland is delighted to announce that the Agriculture Minister, Mr. Vincent Ssempijja is leading a delegation of 22 Agri-Business Farmers to visit The National Ploughing Championship on Wednesday 20th of September.

With their fact finding mission the Ugandan farmers hope to learn from Irish farmers how they have managed farming growth and development. They too are looking for farmers who may be interested in partnering with Ugandan Farmers in diverse areas of agri-business, such as, Dairy farming, mushroom and Pumpkin growing, poultry and vegetable growing as well as the Agri-business technology sector. The delegation will visit different Agri-Businesses in Ireland.

In Uganda over 80% of the population are employed in Agriculture. This accounts for an estimated 42% of gross domestic product (GDP) (FAO, 2012). Although agriculture is the main source of people’s income, most farmers are not engaged in meaningful commercial farming. The persistent challenges of the sector include low productivity; weak and unskilled agri-enterprises and low import-export balance emanating from low and poor quality agri-products, inadequate access to tailored agri-product and service premium markets, low agribusiness competitiveness, less input and financial credit, low improved technology at all levels of the commodities value chain, and less employed manpower. The major technologies hindering agricultural and agribusiness development include low production and agro-processing mechanization, and absence of relevant ICT to boost the agribusiness value chains.

This fact finding mission hopes to find solutions that will be affordable and practical strategies in addressing the agribusiness constraints impacting on productivity, skilled enterprises and import-export equilibriums by tapping synergies, comparative advantages, and system’s approach for the mutual benefits of Ireland and Ugandan economies.

Queen of the Ploughing – Anna May McHugh

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‘The embodiment of the spirit of rural Ireland’

Irish Mirror

Published by Penguin Ireland on the 7th September at €25.00

Anna May McHugh’s name is synonymous with ‘the Ploughing’ – the annual Championships of the National Ploughing Association. The event is the biggest outdoor agricultural show in Europe and Anna May is the driving force behind its spectacular growth.

Anna May now tells her story. Her description of growing up as part of a large family in rural County Laois is an evocative and affectionate account of an Ireland that is now gone. But in her account of how she went from being a secretary of the Ploughing Association, her first job, to becoming – to her own amazement – its managing director twenty years later is a story of leadership and people skills that are very much of the twenty-first century. Anna May was truly ahead of her time.

Still living in County Laois, close to where she grew up, and now in her eighties, Anna May still runs the multi-million euro operation from her home, alongside her daughter, Anna Marie. 

Queen of the Ploughing is a captivating read, full of warmth, lively stories and Anna May’s sharp observations. And it’s not just about Anna May’s life, but is also a celebration of the best of Irish life over eight decades.

Anna May McHugh grew up on a farm in Ballylinan, Co Laois. She has worked with the National Ploughing Association for 66 years, serving as the association’s secretary for 21 years until 1973, when she was appointed its Managing Director. In that time, the National Ploughing Championships has become Europe’s largest outdoor agricultural trade exhibition, hosting nearly 300,000 visitors over three days. Anna May has been acclaimed as the driving force behind the event’s spectacular growth. She still lives in Ballylinan, in the home she shared with her late husband John, which is also the headquarters of the ploughing. Her daughter Anna Marie works alongside her with the NPA and her son DJ is a farmer.

For further information, please contact Cliona Lewis, Publicity Director, Penguin Ireland on +353 1 531 4151 or email: clewis@penguinrandomhouse.ie.

Anticipation Mounts As The Countdown Is Now On For #Ploughing17

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With just over two weeks to go to this year’s epic National Ploughing Championships there was a real sense of excitement at this morning’s launch on the Screggan site, Tullamore, Co Offaly. The 3 day event opening on the 19th September.

Media and special guests were entertained by local performers the now famous identical quadruplet calves Jenny, Rosie, Mia and Fluffy, a sneak peak of the site build, horses and hounds from the hunt chase, a glimpse of the highly anticipated fashion shows and a taste of the entertainment programme for Ploughing 2017.

NPA Managing Director Anna May McHugh with World ploughman Eamonn Treacy, Carlow at the NPA Media launch for this years National Ploughing Championships to be held at Screggan, Tullamore19-21 September next.
Picture: Jeff Harvey.

Launching the event, NPA Managing Director Anna May McHugh said “The Championships not only provides a national stage for showcasing all things agricultural, but also brings together people from all sectors of Irish society both rural and urban, to enjoy three days immersed in country living,”

“It is great to see the phenomenal interest in the Ploughing Championships with countries such as the USA, UK, Germany, Belgium, Turkey, New Zealand, France and the Netherlands exhibiting. Also the number of overseas buyers coming to ploughing has doubled with buyers and visitors from Italy, Hungary, Australia, Prague, South Africa, Spain, Saudi Arabia, Latvia, India, Poland, China and Russia.”

“With record crowds of 283,000 visitors in attendance last year and the site in Screggan proving to be a phenomenal success, signals would suggest another “great ploughing” is on the way.” Anna May commended the Gardai on the Traffic Plan and asked the public to travel with care and follow the plan provided.

Food and farming were the flare of the day as ploughing enthusiasts, landowners and public representatives including the Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed and photographic journalists got a flavour of all that “Ploughing” has to offer.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine Michael Creed said “It is with great delight that I am here today to launch this year’s National Ploughing Championships. This is the pinnacle event in the farming calendar and a wonderful celebration of agriculture and rural life.”

Exciting new initiatives this year will see the return of the Machinery Demonstration Area, the inaugural Harry Fergusson Macra Tractor Driver Safety Award and the Biggest Indoor Innovation Arena built at any Irish Event.

There will be an array of new exhibitors as well as hundreds of outstanding veteran companies showcasing their products and services in dynamic ways. The very latest models in agricultural machinery, quality livestock, a Forestry Village, Food Fayre, an International Business Centre.

A Local Enterprise Village with exhibitors from all over Ireland, National Brown Baking Final, Foroige Young Cooks Final, Crafts, Pig Agility, topical seminars and lots of special events.

In the ploughing stakes over 350 competitors are preparing to showcase the art of ploughing on Offaly soil over 3 autumn September days with many returning to challenge or defend a title.
Dubbed as the Farmers Festival #Ploughing 17 is sure to be trending later this month as one of Europe’s Largest Outdoor Events.