LEST YOU FORGET, WEEKLY NEWS UPDATES Edition (VI) 2024

 

 As we celebrate women this month, let us remember, "The labour burden of rural women exceeds that of men, and includes a higher proportion of unpaid household responsibilities related to preparing food and collecting fuel and water. The contribution of women to agricultural and food production is clearly significant. However, it is impossible to verify empirically the share produced by women because agriculture is usually a venture among household members and involves a range of resources and inputs that cannot be readily assigned by gender. Women’s participation in rural labour markets show much heterogeneity at the regional level, but women are over represented in unpaid, seasonal and part-time work, and the available evidence suggests that women are often paid less than men, for the same work."

AGROREF UGANDA

YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW; WEEKLY AGRICULTURE –COOPERATIVES (AGRICO) NEWS

 

LEST YOU FORGET; EDITION-(VI)                             4th-10th March 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.

GOVT MAKES U-TURN ON MEAT BAN IN KAMPALA

Minister Kabanda in an interview with this publication on Sunday said the Prime Minister, Ms Robinah Nabbanja, had halted the implementation of the ban as government continues to assess the impact of the disease in capital city. 

The Minister for Kampala City and Metropolitan Affairs, Ms Minsa Kabanda, has said the ban on selling meat in Kampala as directed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) last week, will not be implemented.

The ban followed an outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease in Kabowa, Rubaga Division, Kampala on February 28, 2024. Through a March 1, 2024, letter to Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), the Commissioner Animal Health at the Ministry of Agriculture, Dr Anna Rose Ademun, directed all local authorities under KCCA to enforce a quarantine restriction on the movement of cattle, goats, sheep and their by-products within Kampala.

"Livestock markets, slaughter places including butcheries, loading grounds and animal shows in the entire [Kampala] district are hereby closed with immediate effect," Dr Ademun's letter read in part.

https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/govt-makes-u-turn-on-meat-ban-in-kampala-4551678           

28% DRINKING WATER POINTS LACED WITH LEAD — REPORT

More than 28% of drinking water sources in Uganda may have more than safely allowable amounts of lead, a new report by the Government says. While the study found arsenic, fluorides, and nitrates to be within the safe range, the same could not be said of lead, a common heavy metal that can be hazardous to human well-being.
The report titled Uganda Demographic Health Survey (UDHS) was released on Thursday at Mestil Hotel in Kampala.
Most lead contamination in water sources is from lead-containing materials in water systems such as metallic pipes according to the World Health Organisation.
Overall, the report notes that all (100%) of household drinking water sources were found safe from arsenic, 99.5% were free of nitrates, 97.7% were free concerning Fluorides, and 72.3 percent of lead. This (lead levels) they noted exceeded the allowable levels.

Urban areas had the most contaminated waters with lead, at 78.2 percent, while rural had the lowest at 68.3 percent. https://www.newvision.co.ug/category/agriculture/28-drinking-water-points-laced-with-lead-repo-NV_182993      

 

COFFEE FARMERS URGED TO EXPLORE RUSSIAN MARKET

Ugandan farmers have been urged to explore the Russian market to sell their coffee to satisfy the market demand.
Ugandan ambassador to Russia Moses Kizige says Uganda has signed multiple memorandums of understanding (MOUs), one of which is with Russia's biggest media company to specifically showcase Uganda's coffee.
Another MoU is with the Russian Orthodox Church to have only Ugandan Coffee at all their churches and another with Vnukovo International Airport, guaranteeing that only Ugandan Coffee will be served there (airport). https://www.newvision.co.ug/category/news/coffee-farmers-urged-to-explore-russian-marke-NV_182881

 

UGANDA COURTS EU INVESTMENT IN AGRI-EXPORT INFRASTRUCTURE

The agriculture ministry has called on EU investors to consider the cold chain, packaging, construction of warehouses, cargo freight, and inputs manufacture, as areas of investment to help Uganda increase its Agricultural exports. The call was made by the Minister of State for Animal Husbandry Bright Rwamirama on Wednesday, March 6, at the ongoing EU Uganda Business Summit, taking place at Speke Resort Munyonyo.

Rwamirama explained exports in question will be taken up by existing markets such as the East African Community (EAC), The Common Market for Eastern & Southern Africa (COMESA), European Union and Asian Countries to mention among others. https://www.newvision.co.ug/category/agriculture/uganda-courts-eu-investment-in-agri-export-in-NV_182879   

 

UGANDA TARGETS REDUCTION OF BIOMASS ENERGY USE TO 50%

Uganda is targeting reducing the share of biomass energy used for cooking from 85% in 2018/19 fiscal year to 50% by 2024/25.

A senior government official in the Ministry of Works and Transport Samson Bagonza said that engineers in the energy sector have provided solutions and also designed renewable energy projects for hydropower, solar and geothermal.

Uganda’s biggest source of energy for cooking is biomass. Biomass energy is the use of charcoal and wood. The use of biomass energy has led deforestation (through cutting down of trees for wood and charcoal) and is also responsible for high carbondioxide emissions.

Statistics show that Uganda energy sources are biomass 85%, oil products accounting for 11% and electricity at 4%. Annually, Uganda losses 120,000 hectares of forest cover of which 60% (72,000 hectares) is due to charcoal and firewood.

A Ugandan household emits 30 tonnes of carbon per year compared to 5 tonnes in UK. https://www.newvision.co.ug/category/agriculture/uganda-targets-reduction-of-biomass-energy-us-NV_182844  

 

PALM OIL STRENGTHENED WITH HIGH DEMAND – MALAYSIAN OFFICIALMalaysia's palm oil sector continues to be strengthened by high demand from primary export partners, a Malaysian official said on Tuesday.

"This year, we anticipate strong demand for palm oil from our top export destinations such as India, China, and the Europe Union," Plantation and Commodities Minister Johari Abdul Ghani said in his keynote address at the 35th Palm and Lauric Oils Price Outlook Conference and Exhibition.

The demand is further supported by the interest in replenishing stocks to ensure food security and the overall viability of business activities, he added.

Johari said in order to realize the positive estimates for the commodity in 2024, it is crucial to act swiftly and address key challenges in the industry including managing the negative perceptions against palm oil, the sizable opportunity loss arising from inefficient smallholders, climate change (El Nino) and labor issues. https://www.newvision.co.ug/category/business/palm-oil-strengthened-with-high-demand-malays-NV_182787    

WOMEN AND RURAL POOR HIT HARDEST BY CLIMATE CHANGE: UN

Heatwaves and floods inflict greater economic pain on rural women than men because climate change intensifies existing inequalities, the United Nations' food and farming agency said on Tuesday. Scientists say the effects of rising temperatures are already being felt most acutely by the poorest and most vulnerable people on the planet.

"Failure to address the unequal impacts of climate change on rural people will intensify the already large gap between the haves and have-nots, and between men and women," the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) said in a new report.

The report said rural, women-led households in low- and middle-income nations already face more financial burdens than men when disaster strikes. If these "significant existing differences" in wages are not addressed, the gap will worsen, the FAO added. Women are more vulnerable to changes in the climate than men, the FAO said, because of deep rooted "social structures, and discriminatory norms and institutions".

That leaves women bearing a much larger domestic and childcare burden than men, which limits their opportunities to study and find a job, it said. https://www.newvision.co.ug/category/news/women-and-rural-poor-hit-hardest-by-climate-c-NV_182783  

ABOVE-NORMAL TEMPERATURES FOR MARCH-MAY DUE TO EL NINO — UN

The warming El Nino weather phenomenon that peaked in December was one of the five strongest ever recorded, the United Nations said Tuesday, predicting that it would produce above-normal temperatures from now to May.

Though El Nino is now gradually weakening, its impact will continue over the coming months by fuelling the heat trapped in the atmosphere by greenhouse gases, the UN's World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said.

Therefore "above normal temperatures are predicted over almost all land areas between March and May", the WMO said in a quarterly update. https://www.newvision.co.ug/category/news/above-normal-temperatures-for-march-may-due-t-NV_182726

MAAIF, WORLD BANK TO TAKE WEATHER INFORMATION TO FARMERS

Uganda is expected to experience more rains than last year, according to the latest Uganda National Meteorology Authority (UNMA) report. However, much as this information was released to the public, stakeholders believe such information is not reaching the targeted beneficiaries, who are farmers in rural areas.

For example, the information was channeled through emails, WhatsApp groups and X, formerly Twitter. To make it worse, the information is in English and in scientific terms, making it hard for even the elite farmers to understand the it.

Although some media houses went ahead and interviewed officials from UNMA, that alone may not be sufficient for farmers to access weather-related information, which is now key, since the country, just like other parts of the world, are fast experiencing effects of climate change.

If farmers have accurate weather information in the simplest terms, it guides them to plan better for their farming cycle. Failure to plan in agriculture amidst the changing weather, will lead to unsustainable food production, according to Dr Agnes Kalibata, the President of AGRA Africa. https://www.newvision.co.ug/category/agriculture/maaif-world-bank-to-take-weather-information-NV_182661     

COFFEE FARMERS HAVE 8 MONTHS TO COMPLY WITH EU REGULATIONS

Ugandan coffee farmers have only 8 months to comply with newly released European Union regulations against deforestation or the cutting down of trees to create space for coffee planting. Under the new regulations, coffee coming from coffee farms that replaced trees or forests after 30 December 2020 will not be allowed on the European Market. Because they will have breached EU regulations. Termed as EUDR, the regulations are aimed at reducing global deforestation, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, minimising biodiversity loss, promoting sustainable consumption and production for coffee patterns and reducing forest degradation. This came into force on December 5, 2022, when the EU Parliament approved the regulations for deforestation-free products entering EU markets. Although the regulations came into force on June 29, 2023, they will be applied starting December 30, 2024. That means Ugandan coffee farmers have eight months to comply. https://www.newvision.co.ug/category/agriculture/coffee-farmers-have-8-months-to-comply-with-e-NV_182659   

UGANDA CALLS FOR COLLECTIVE ACTION ON GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT CHALLENGES

Uganda continues to focus on manufacturing electric and emission-free buses, saloon cars, motorcycles, and boats for the domestic and regional market in order to address the challenge of pollution. Uganda recognizes the critical importance of collective action in addressing global environmental challenges, the Minister Water and Environment Minister Sam Cheptoris has said. Cheptoris noted that Uganda as a nation is committed to sustainable development and environmental stewardship. He said his ministry continues to strive for the advancement of solutions to the three planetary crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. https://www.newvision.co.ug/category/agriculture/uganda-calls-for-collective-action-on-global-NV_182634          

UGANDA ASKED TO BORROW NEPAL’S COMMUNITY FOREST GROWTH MODEL

Nepal provides a practical example of how the community can be empowered to manage forests and significantly contribute to the growth of forest cover in the county.
“We learnt that once you organise the people, tell them what to do and the importance and gains from the forest, they will take care of the forest, and if you do something detrimental to the forest, you are punished as a community member,” Makerere University lecturer Dr Peter Babyenda says.
According to Babyenda, Nepal’s model demonstrates how local people are at the forefront of protecting forests in Nepal. However, in many other countries, communities living near forests are seen as enemies of forests.
Babyenda, who is a policy engagement specialist for the Inclusive Green Economy (IGE) Programme, says in 2023, a team went on a study tour in Nepal to learn about community forest management practices that has increased Nepal's forest cover from 29% in 1990 to 45% in 2013.
Uganda’s forestry cover has decreased from 24% in 1990 to about 9%. https://www.newvision.co.ug/category/agriculture/uganda-asked-to-borrow-nepals-community-fores-NV_182310           

UGANDA COFFEE LABORATORY GETS GLOBAL CERTIFICATION NOD

The Coffee Quality Institute (CQI), the world’s leading body in coffee quality training and certification, has awarded Q Venue recognition to the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA).
The UCDA Coffee Laboratory is now internationally recognized as a center of excellence for coffee quality assessment and allows UCDA to offer Q Arabica and Q Robusta training, especially to the youth interested in building a career in the coffee industry.
This milestone reaffirms our commitment to improving the quality of Uganda coffee, promoting value addition, and driving positive change in the coffee industry.
Locations certified with Coffee Quality Institute let the world know that they meet international standards.
The Q Venue provides a consistent, predictable learning environment where educators know that they will have the tools and space they need to deliver courses that maintain international standards. https://www.newvision.co.ug/category/agriculture/uganda-coffee-laboratory-gets-global-certific-NV_182085

INTERNATIONAL TASTE NUTRITION PLANT OPENS IN UGANDA

Irish-based company Kerry International Flavor has opened its plant in Uganda. The over five-million-dollar investment located in Banda is aimed at supporting local food and beverage manufacturers. Peter Dillane, the Vice President of Africa and the Middle East of the Kerry Company while speaking to journalists at the launch of the company on Thursday said that the plant in Uganda will increase its presence in the East African region and Africa. Dillane said that Africa has 65 percent of vast land that can used for agriculture.  He added that more crops have been grown for use in food processing but in an unorganized manner making it hard to get consistent quality and prices. Dillane revealed that with the opening of the plant in Uganda, there is a need to work with agricultural groups, government, and other partners to establish consistency, good, and stable prices for the farmers. https://www.independent.co.ug/international-taste-nutrition-plant-opens-in-uganda/        

EIB GLOBAL AND HOUSING FINANCE BANK ANNOUNCE €50 MILLION FOR PRIVATE SECTOR

The Housing Finance Bank (HFB) of Uganda and EIB Global on Thursday announced a partnership to avail over two hundred and twelve billion (€50 million) investment to support private sector entities, notably SMEs in Uganda. At least half of the investment to be allocated to women-led or women-owned enterprises. The EIB financing is part of the €200 million ACP Gender Finance Facility which aims to provide financing across Africa, Caribbean and the Pacific. EIB global is part of the European Investment Bank. The EIB was the first multilateral lender to sign on to the 2X Challenge Criteria. This criteria requires that the EIB offer at least 30% of its investment support to businesses that are 51% of owned by a woman; a business founder is a woman; 30% of the senior leadership or Board composition is by women; 30-50% of the workforce is women; or the company offers services or products that specifically or disproportionately benefit women. https://www.independent.co.ug/eib-global-and-housing-finance-bank-announce-e50-million-for-private-sector/       

MINISTER BAHATI, UGANDA BREWERIES AGREE TO FIGHT ILLICIT ALCOHOL

The state minister in Charge of Industry at the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives David Bahati has pledged to work with Uganda Breweries Limited (UBL) and other sector players in addressing the challenge of illicit alcohol that costs Gov’t billions of lost taxes. This, he said during a tour at the UBL facility in Luzira on Thursday.According to the 2021 Euromonitor Report, illicit alcohol takes 65% market share in Uganda and every year Government loses about UGX 600b in taxes through the manufacture and sale of illicit alcohol. “As Gov’t, we are going to continue working with you to ensure that we fight illicit alcohol because it’s a source of loss of revenue but also it is a source of health problems because these products that are being produced, we don’t know the elements,” he stated, citing at an incident that happened in Arua when 28 people died after consuming illicit alcohol. Bahati said that UNBS has to be on the ground even after giving someone certification. He said that there’s a need for regular monitoring and to see compliance levels. On illicit alcohol, he said he commended the Government’s efforts in addressing illicit alcohol and was optimistic that a solution will be found soon. https://www.independent.co.ug/minister-bahati-uganda-breweries-agree-to-fight-illicit-alcohol/  

STUDY SUGGESTS INDIGENOUS PRACTICES TO CURB METHANE IN UGANDA’S LIVESTOCK

The existing livestock practices in Uganda’s cattle industry can be used to limit the emission of greenhouse gases.This is part of the findings from the Support to Rural Sustainable Transformation (SIRGE) project, funded by the European Union. The project aimed at providing more accurate data on the carbon emissions from the cattle industry. It also promoted innovative and climate-smart agricultural practices in Uganda. The project has been implemented by Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development (ACTED) – a French charity with operations in 37 countries including Uganda. The project in Uganda was implemented  between 2021 and 2024 in the cattle corridor districts of Nakasongola and Mbarara. Dr. Muhammad Kiggundu, a livestock nutrition expert with National Livestock Resources Research Institute (NaLIRRI) said the findings provide a wealth of data that can be used by farmers. https://www.independent.co.ug/study-suggests-indigenous-practices-to-curb-methane-in-ugandas-livestock/