AGROREF UGANDA-LEST YOU FORGET; AGRICO NEWS UPDATES- EDITION (II) 2024
AGROREF UGANDA
YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW; WEEKLY AGRICULTURE –COOPERATIVES
(AGRICO) NEWS
LEST YOU FORGET; EDITION-(II)
29thJan-04th Feb 2024
About AgroRef Uganda
Agriculture Reform (AgroRef) Uganda is a Non-Governmental and
Not-for -Profit Organization focusing on advancing agricultural policy reforms,
budget advocacy; and supporting building of systems, fostering values of
equity, accountability, transparency and sustainability of organisations
especially small holder farmer organizations including but not limited to
agricultural cooperatives using a Human Rights Based Approach.
AgroRef Uganda compiles news from different media houses and outlets
that have been published during the week and shares them with our key
stakeholders. The purpose is to keep farmers updated and informed of the
operating environment in the country.
UGANDA ADDS JUBA TO ITS E-CARGO TRACKING SET
Uganda
will extend its electronic cargo tracking system (ECTS) to South Sudan as part
of a long-term strategy to curb diversion, dumping and theft of goods destined
for Juba from the ports of Mombasa and Dar es Salaam.
The
South Sudan Revenue Authority (SSRA) Commissioner General Africano Mande and
his Ugandan counterpart John Musinguzi this week met in Kampala to discuss
cargo monitoring system between the two countries.
South
Sudanese taxman said it had contracted a Uganda-based company, Invesco Uganda
Ltd, to provide real-time valuation of goods to save money Juba has been losing
over the years in false estimations of taxes.
This
benchmarking visit to Uganda, he said, was meant to learn from URA’s cargo
tracking system. URA uses the Regional Electronic Cargo Tracking System (Rects)
to monitor goods in transit. The authority has dedicated teams that monitor the
system’s performance and ensure continuous stability along the trade route.
Uganda
set up the UKAid-funded Electronic Cargo Tracking system in 2014 to mainly curb
diversion of goods in transit, reduce delays and cost of doing business across
the Northern corridor.
https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/uganda-adds-juba-to-its-e-cargo-tracking-set-4513946
TAYEBWA COMMENDS GOVT ON ELECTRICITY SCALE-UP PROJECT
During the launch of the project in Mitooma on
Friday, Mr Tayebwa said it is a pivotal initiative that holds the promise of
transforming lives in rural communities
Deputy
Speaker Thomas Tayebwa has commended a new government programme that will see
about 1.3 million rural households connected to the national power grid through
the Electricity Access Scale-up Project (EASP).
During
the launch of the project in Mitooma on Friday, Mr Tayebwa said it is a pivotal
initiative that holds the promise of transforming lives in rural communities.
The
EASP, supported by World Bank funding of $638m (about 2.4 trillion) aims to
increase energy access for households, enterprises, and institutions through
grid and off-grid connections, aligning with Uganda's Vision 2040, NDP II and
III, and SDG 7 for universal energy access by 2030.
The
Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, Ms Ruth Nankabirwa expressed
optimism that by 2030, all Ugandans will have access to electricity as a result
of EASP.
“The
connections will benefit 4.5 million people of which 300,000 are female-headed
households, for both household and commercial establishments in line with the
Electricity Connections Policy 2018 and Energy Policy 2023,” she said.
The
Minister of Works and Transport, Gen Katumba Wamala has directed Kampala
Capital City Authority (KCCA) and Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) to
evict all vendors who are operating businesses along the shoulders and walkways
of the city roads, with immediate effect.
He
emphasized that all persons operating roadside businesses are doing it
illegally, urging the relevant authorities to take decisive actions against
them.
“In
accordance with Section 65(1)(e) of the Roads Act, 2019, a person who carries
out a business activity on the shoulder, sidewalk or road reserve of a public
road commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding one
hundred sixty-eight currency points or imprisonment not exceeding seven years
or both,” he said, on Friday while speaking to journalists in Kampala.
Gen
Katumba further explained that the hundreds of vendors who were evicted from
the roads ahead of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and G77+ China summits should
find other places to do business, adding that no one will be allowed to operate
on the roadsides again.
EMBRACE VALUE ADDITION - MAYIGA
Buganda
Kingdom Premier (Katikkiro) Charles Peter Mayiga has urged farmers to embrace
new farming technologies.
Mr
Mayiga said farming programmes should be focused on improving livelihoods.
“We
need to rely on science to get the best coffee varieties that will give us
maximum yields. If we encourage people to grow coffee and they continue to grow
coffee, they must be able to realise the good results through improved
incomes,” he said.
Addressing
agriculture researchers on January 30 at Kituuza Village, Nkokonjeru Subcounty
in Mukono District, where he engaged with experts at the National Coffee
Research Institute (Nacori), Mr Mayiga praised Nacori for its role in promoting
the ‘Emmwaanyi Terimba’ campaign, a programme advocating for coffee production
in Buganda Kingdom.
He
emphasised the need for value-addition to extract different ingredients from
coffee beans, which can be utilised in cosmetics, jewellery, nutritional
supplements, and other daily essentials.
Buganda
Kingdom signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Naro in October last
year.
Under
the MoU, Buganda aims to rely on science to advance initiatives benefiting
people engaged in agriculture. Naro’s institutes, including Nacori, Namulonge,
Kawanda, and Mukono Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute
(Muzardi), cover various aspects from coffee value-addition to livestock, food
standards testing, and zonal demands such as fisheries, vegetables, and poultry.
The
collaboration seeks to disseminate research and promote modern farming methods
for the benefit of Uganda’s farming communities.
WARMER THAN USUAL TEMPERATURES EXPECTED IN HORN OF AFRICA, SAYS
CLIMATE CENTER
NAIROBI
- The majority of the Horn of Africa is expected to be warmer than usual
between February and April, heightening the likelihood of extreme weather
events that could impact the region's vulnerability, a regional climate center
said Thursday.
Temperatures in some countries with arid areas, including Kenya and Somalia,
may reach 40 degrees Celsius, causing heat stress, said the Climate Prediction
Center of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, a regional bloc, in
its latest forecast.
The high temperatures would follow a period of El Nino rains that caused heavy
flooding and displacement, it warned. Besides the warmer temperatures, the
Nairobi-based institution said that some countries in the region would further
experience wetter than normal conditions as the climate crisis intensifies.
The countries expected to experience wetter conditions include parts of
Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, southern South Sudan, much of Ethiopia,
Somalia and Djibouti.
Some 23.4 million people across the Horn of Africa faced hunger, of whom 5.1
million children were malnourished, according to the World Food Program.
On the other hand, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination
of Humanitarian Affairs, 479 people were killed, and more than 5.2 million
people were affected by flooding caused by El Nino rains between October and
December 2023 in Kenya, Somalia, Uganda, Burundi and Ethiopia.
https://english.news.cn/20240201/ed69f7a0500b4cffa05696370860af69/c.html
KATIKKIRO MAYIGA URGES GOVT ON AGRICULTURE
FUNDING
Buganda
Kingdom premier (Katikkiro) Charles Peter Mayiga has urged the Government to
increase the agriculture sector budget allocation.
Mayiga
says as a sector in which Uganda has a comparative advantage, if handled and
funded well, it can transform the country into a middle-income status.
“With
the progress registered from the sector in the field of research by the
National Agriculture Research Organisation (NARO), if the Government picks more
interest and enables the results from NARO’s research to be extended to farmers
in different districts, enabling them to produce more and better agriculture
yields, Uganda can be in a position to feed its population, the neighbouring
countries and also export to Arab and European countries,” he
said. Katikkiro Mayiga made the remarks early this week during a tour of
the National Coffee Research Institute Uganda (NACORI) at Kituuza in
Ntenjeru-Kisoga town council and Mukono Zonal Agricultural Research and
Development Institute (MUZARDI) at Ntaawo cell in Mukono central division,
Mukono municipality.
Comparative
advantage is an economy’s ability to produce a particular good or service at a
lower opportunity cost than its trading partners.
https://www.newvision.co.ug/category/news/katikkiro-mayiga-urges-govt-on-agriculture-fu-NV_180293
LIMITED KNOWLEDGE AMONG DEALERS BLAMED FOR
POOR AGROCHEMICAL USE
Although
agrochemicals such as herbicides for weed control and pesticides for pest
control reduce losses on the farm, failure to apply them in the right amounts
could be dangerous to the farmer, the environment, and even the market.
According to Sasakawa Africa Association deputy country director Joseph Bemba,
most agrochemicals are misused due to limited knowledge.
“There has been limited training for agro-dealers, because they, too, are not
aware, they tend to mislead farmers. We plan to train both farmers and
agrochemical dealers, and stockists on the safe use of agrochemicals,” Bemba
said.
Apart from training on safe agrochemical use, he said the farming communities
will also be exposed to alternatives to agrochemicals, now that effects of
climate change are being felt among the farmers.
“There are effects of agrochemicals, on the soil, harvested foods but also for
markets. We have had reports of agricultural produce rejected by foreign
markets due to the presence of chemical residues so shall also show farmers
alternatives to chemical use,” Bemba added.
According to a study by Swiss contact, interceptions of Uganda’s agricultural
produce increased to more than 100 in 2022 due to the presence of chemical
residues and also live insects such as moths.
In the same meeting, Stephen Tibeijula Byantwale, the director crop resources
in the agriculture ministry, admitted that there is a challenge with
agrochemical use, adding that these are greatly affecting trade.
But added that these are being addressed through the agriculture ministry's
value chain development strategy. The strategy seeks to increase farmer incomes
through improvements in production and productivity, infrastructure
development, market development, and trade facilitation among others.
OPERATIONALIZE FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE
ACT – MPS
Members of Parliament (MPs) have demanded
that the Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industries and Fisheries, Frank Tumwebaze,
expedite the implementation of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act, 2022 as a way
of curbing the use of substandard fishing gear.
They said the law, if implemented, will also avert the recurrent alleged human
rights violations of fish farmers by the security operatives.
Parliament passed the Act, whose objective among others; is to provide for the
licensing, control, and regulation of fishing and aquaculture production
activities and practices, the methods of fishing, and fishing gear.
In 2017, President Yoweri Museveni directed the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces
(UPDF) to deploy on Ugandan lakes to combat illegal fishing practices so as to
protect the fish resource that was under threat of depletion.
Agnes Atim (NRM, District Woman Amolatar) said that in the absence of
regulations, fishers are being blackmailed and tortured by the UPDF into using
substandard imported fishing gear.
https://www.newvision.co.ug/category/news/operationalize-fisheries-and-aquaculture-act-NV_180189
GOVT URGED ON PROVISION OF WALKING
TRACTORS TO ALL VILLAGES
The
Government has been urged to provide handheld tractors to every village in the
country as a way of increasing production and productivity.
Alebtong LC5 chairperson David Kennedy Odongo says the move will help 39% of
people trapped in subsistence farming to migrate faster to commercial
agriculture since it is only the available option to fight household poverty
and boost production.
Odongo made the call on January 29, 2024, while receiving one tractor and 14
walking tractors given by the Government, through the agriculture ministry in a
ceremony held at the district headquarters.
Use of oxen
limits farmers
According to Odongo, the ox-plough is limiting because the oxen cannot
plough for a long period coupled with the sickness that may strike the oxen and
poor feeding.
Government Chief Whip Denis Hamson Obua handed over the tractors to Amugu Agro
Technical Institute to ease the training of students pursuing agricultural
courses.
SUGARCANE PRICES TO STABLISE ACCORDING TO THE NEWLY TABLED SUGAR
AMENDMENT ACT
The
Minister of state for trade, industry and cooperatives, David Bahati has
assured farmers of stable prices in the newly tabled sugar amendment act.
While
addressing journalists in Jinja city on Saturday, Bahati says the existing
sugar act had depicted sugarcane prices to be dependent on sugar prices in the
market however; different surveys revealed how such assessments would expose
farmers to unfair pricing during bumper harvests. Bahati says that, this
sugar bill which was tabled for second reading on Thursday has a well-designed
formula, which will be applicable for both millers and government alike to set
agreeable minimum prices for sugarcane irrespective of the prevailing laws of
demand and supply at given periods. The Minister says sugarcane prices shall be
considered in consideration of the different factors of production, which will
enable farmers to earn reasonable profits, irrespective of other looming forces
within the market. He says that, such factors are key in relieving farmers from
the burden of opportunistic middlemen, who throng the market with an aim of
using their money to cheaply purchase sugarcane plantations during bumper
harvest seasons, then expensively sell the same to millers as and when prices
stablise.
Bahati
also made it clear that they will establish a government led sugar council,
comprising of equal representatives from both the millers and farmers’ alike,
with equal votes on the decision making within the sugar industry.
https://www.independent.co.ug/minister-bahati-assures-farmers-on-stability-of-sugarcane-prices/
FMD: GOVERNMENT TO SEEK SUPPLEMENTARY BUDGET FOR LIVESTOCK
VACCINATION
The
Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) Frank Tumwebaze
has said that government is considering a policy reversal on vaccination of
livestock, to allow farmers purchase vaccines.
The
Minister made this revelation while presenting a statement on the outbreak of
Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) during the plenary sitting on Thursday, 01
February 2024.
Tumwebaze
said that whereas the current policy requires government to avail vaccines to
farmers as a public good, the budget for procuring vaccines has been
insufficient covering only 1.1 per cent of the susceptible domestic animal
population, contrary to the recommended 80 per cent. “Our total
susceptible animal herd that requires FMD vaccination as per current estimates
is 44 million. This therefore, requires an annual vaccine stock of 88 million
doses for the bi-annual vaccination requirement at a cost of USD$2 per dose.
The financial implication for this translates into USD$176m,” said Tumwebaze.
He
added that government has been studying the financial implication and notes the
financial stress it would impose on the national budget if the requirement for
bi-annual mass vaccination is to be achieved.
https://www.independent.co.ug/fmd-government-to-seek-supplementary-budget-for-livestock-vaccination/
TRADE MINISTRY ON THE SPOT OVER PLUMMETING WEST NILE COTTON PRICES
According
to Isaac Otimgiw (NRM, Padyere County), the Cotton Development Organisation
(CDO) set the purchasing price for a kilogramme of cotton at Shs2,300 as per
the 2023 season, however, it is not being adhered to.
“In
Nebbi District, farmers are being offered prices as low as Shs1,300 and they
have been given no other choice. The Ministry of Trade must tell the House why
they have allowed our farmers to be exploited this way,” Otimgiw noted. Obongi
County MP, Hon. George Bhoka, said a number of cotton-growing districts in West
Nile have been affected by the low pricing of the crop despite high investments
by the farmers. “Cotton is being bought on credit and some farmers have not
been paid. We pray that government takes steps to see to it that this sector is
not wiped out,” Bhoka added.
Abed
Bwanika (NUP, Kimaanya-Kabonera Division) said he had previously sought leave
of the House to introduce the Contract Farming Bill that seeks to regulate
contracts and block farming in the country.
Under
contract farming, an agreement exists between a buyer and farmers to supply a
specific quantity and quality of agricultural products at agreed pricing
conditions at a specified date of delivery.
“Mr.
Speaker, this Bill is ready and I request for space on the order paper to have
it read for the first time. It will cure the gaps which my honourable colleagues
have raised,” Bwanika said
https://www.independent.co.ug/trade-ministry-on-the-spot-over-plummeting-west-nile-cotton-prices/
FACTORIES TO PAY FARMERS LESS FOR CANE AFTER SUGAR PRICES DROP TO
SH5000
The
price of sugar on the Ugandan market has dropped from Sh5,500 to Sh5,000,
bringing a smile to consumers but sleepless nights to sugarcane farmers.
The
now low price of sugar has compelled sugar factories in Uganda including
Kaliro, Lugazi, Mayuge, GM, Bugiri Sugar and Kinyara to reduce prices for
sugarcane.
Kaliro
Sugar on January 29, 2024 informed outgrowers that, “As we plan to start the
factory after shutdown, management is hereby informing you all that the sugar
prices in the market have continued to go down which has forced us further
revise our sugarcane prices.”
The
notice added: “The purpose of this note is therefore to inform all the
stakeholders that as we start the plant, our sugarcane prices will be Shs
170,000 with effect from 30th January 2024. (7:00am). We also promise all our
stakeholders that management will continue to review the sugarcane prices
depending on the sugar prices on the market.”
This development has unsettled farmers in Busoga and Bunyoro.
The
chairperson of Uganda Sugarcane Growers Association (USGA) Isa Budhugo said the
new sugarcane price is below the break-even point for a farmer at Shs 210,000.
https://www.independent.co.ug/factories-to-pay-farmers-less-for-cane-as-sugar-prices-drop/
COTTON
GROWING WON'T TAKE ACHOLI REGION OUT OF POVERTY - OWINY-DOLLO
The
chief justice Alfonse Chigamoi Owiny-Dollo has urged farmers in the Acholi
sub-region to switch to growing perennial crops that are profitable instead of
engaging in growing cotton.
Owiny-Dollo
says the majority of farmers in the sub-region grow cotton whose market price
is so low and can never salvage them from the poverty situation they are
currently facing. He said that a cotton farmer earns only between Shs 500,000
and Shs 700,000 from an acre of land yet another farmer who is growing coffee on
the same size of land earns about Shs 15 million.
AgroRef Uganda wishes you a blissful week and the month of February 2024
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