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

 

  

 

AGROREF UGANDA

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

 

LEST YOU FORGET; EDITION-(XVII)                             08^th , September, 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 the building of systems, fostering values of equity, accountability, transparency, and sustainability of organisations, especially smallholder 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.

NEW PROJECT TO SUPPORT FARMERS ACCESS QUALITY FERTILIZERS LAUNCHED

A new project that will see farmers access quality and affordable fertilizers has been launched. The Fertilizer Financing for Sustainable Agriculture (FFSAM) project is a USD 2 million project by African Development Bank Group in partnership with the African Fertilizer and Agribusiness Partnership (AFAP) aimed at enabling access to quality and affordable fertilizers to farmers especially the small holder category. The three-year project targets to cover 400,000 farmers in 12 districts. The project if financed by the Africa Fertilizer Financing Mechanism (AFFM) which is a special fund under the African Development Bank Group that provides innovative financing solutions required to accelerate fertilizer use in Africa and improve agricultural production and productivity. https://naads.or.ug/new-project-to-support-farmers-access-quality-fertilizers-launched/

NAADS TARGETS TO ESTABLISH OVER 3,500 ACRES OF HASS AVOCADO AND MACADAMIA THIS YEAR

Following the onset of rains in most parts of the country, government through the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) under the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) is distributing planting materials for hass avocado and macadamia to farmers across the different parts of the country. In the current financial 2024/25, NAADS is set to distribute over 400,000 seedlings of hass avocado worth sh.2.5bn and over 100,000 seedlings of macadamia worth sh.1bn during the 2 planting seasons of August to October 2024 and March to May 2025. https://naads.or.ug/naads-targets-to-establish-over-3500-acres-of-hass-avocado-and-macadamia-this-year/

DIGITAL TOOLS LINKING EXTENSION WORKERS TO FARMER COOPERATIVES

Farmers’ cooperatives are gaining momentum in the different districts of Northern Uganda. These groups are vital in optimizing resources all while facilitating market access hence boosting productivity, especially for smallholder farmers. Hilda Adur, a digital technology researcher says, cooperatives depend on extension services to enrich agricultural knowledge. However, Prisca Alobo, an extension worker in Kwania district notes that there are few experts in the region and they serve many cooperatives and individual farmers. Reaching all cooperatives becomes difficult given the long distances and high transport costs. What makes their work harder is the digital divide. Farmers still face challenges in accessing digital tools such as smartphones. Others don’t even own TVs or radios. https://www.newvision.co.ug/category/agriculture/digital-tools-linking-extension-workers-to-fa-NV_195413          

MAIZE SHORTAGE LOOMS DUE TO UNRELIABLE WEATHER

Ugandans should expect low volumes of maize harvested in the first planting season also known as Season A, of this year. This has been attributed to erratic weather patterns, especially the rains that were not reliable. Agriculture state minister Fred Kyakulaga Bwino made the revelation at the Uganda Media Centre on Wednesday, while issuing an advisory to farmers ahead of the second planting season. “The weather conditions for the first season of 2024, were largely unfavourable for agricultural production. The rains were unreliable. Distribution was uneven. Some rains stopped early in most parts of the country before most of the crops had reached maturity like the maize crop,” Kyakulaga said. https://www.newvision.co.ug/category/agriculture/maize-shortage-looms-due-to-unreliable-weathe-NV_195227                     

GOVT COMMENCES NATIONWIDE SOIL TESTING

The Government has embarked on a countrywide soil testing drive. The move is aimed at helping farmers identify which crops can be grown in their respective areas and which  fertiliser to use for better yields. The soil testing is being conducted by the National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO), and they have now completed the greater Masaka region, according to National Agriculture Advisory Authority executive director Dr Sam Mugasi. According to him, they have now commenced work in Kampala area, adding that the Government is in the process of securing more funds from the World Bank under its climate-smart project for the rest of the project. https://www.newvision.co.ug/category/agriculture/govt-commences-nationwide-soil-testing-NV_195225            

HOW TECHNOLOGY BARRIERS LIMIT RURAL FARMERS FROM ENHANCING PROFITABILITY

Despite the digital age, many rural farmers in Northern Uganda are still grappling with significant challenges in leveraging technology to enhance profitability. Hilda Adur, a digital technology researcher says rural farmers in different districts in Northern Uganda struggle to translate their agricultural output into cash. To her, this is a potent indicator of a critical disconnect. In her research titled; Agro-Advisory Services: Inclusive Digital Solutions for Profitable Smallholder Farmer Groups in Northern Uganda, Adur points out the digital divide which remains a big barrier. It is characterized with limited access to digital training, smartphones, electricity, radio, TV and internet connectivity. https://www.newvision.co.ug/category/agriculture/how-technology-barriers-limit-rural-farmers-f-NV_195198       

COFFEE EXPORTERS, FARMERS DECRY EFFECTS OF EU DEFORESTATION-FREE REGULATION

Uganda's coffee industry is facing a significant disruption, with some of the exporters halting their purchases from farmers due to the new European Union Deforestation-Free Regulation (EUDR). The alarming situation has been highlighted by Bernard Sabiti, a coffee farmer and exporter from Besmark Coffee Company Ltd, who has expressed deep concerns over the government’s delayed implementation of the necessary registration process for farmers. Sabiti blames the Government for the slow rollout of the farmer registration programme, which he argues is crucial for compliance with the EUDR. "The government failed to implement the EUDR regulations in time, but now it is biting us because EU buyers are not purchasing our coffee. The government needs to act quickly because they delayed releasing funds for farmer registration," Sabiti said. https://www.newvision.co.ug/category/agriculture/coffee-exporters-farmers-decry-effects-of-eu-NV_195184     

GOVT TO REVIEW AGRO-CHEMICALS CONTROL LAW

The Government says it has commenced a process to make changes in the agro-chemicals control law. The revision is expected to make it possible to address the challenges faced by the country in the fertiliser market including the rising fake products, according to National Agricultural Advisory Authority (NAADs) executive director Dr Sam Mugasi. He was speaking during the launch of the Africa Fertiliser Financing Mechanism (AFFM) in Uganda at the Kampala Serena Hotel on August 30, 2024. AFFM is a special fund administered by the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) that provides innovative financing solutions required to accelerate the use of fertilisers in Africa and improve agricultural productivity in regional member countries of the African Development Bank Group, including Uganda. https://www.newvision.co.ug/category/agriculture/govt-to-review-agro-chemicals-control-law-NV_195087

MUSEVENI EMPOWERS NEIGHBOURS WITH 50,000 COFFEE SEEDLINGS

President Yoweri Museveni on September 6, 2024, gave out 50,000 coffee seedlings to farmers in Gomba and Sembabule districts. The beneficiaries are from Kirasi village in Gomba and Lutunku village in Sembabule. The seedlings were delivered by State House comptroller Jane Barekye who informed the beneficiaries that the President who owns a farm in Kisozi, Gomba, has made the contribution to ensure that his neighbours in the two districts fight poverty through commercial agriculture. The poverty alleviation project co-ordinator in the two districts, Sarah Nalwanga, revealed that the President will continue giving out the seedlings until all interested farmers are covered. https://www.newvision.co.ug/category/agriculture/museveni-empowers-neighbours-with-50000-coffe-NV_195453_              

GERMANY, EU AND NORAD TO FUND WOMEN BUSINESSES IN GREEN TECHNOLOGIES

Women running businesses in green technologies such as renewable energy, conservation farming, and agro-processing are listed to receive funding from the Federal Republic of Germany, the European Union and NORAD. The support will come through the Employment Promotion for Women for the Green Transformation in Africa (WE4D) program launched by the Minister of Gender Labor and Social Development, Betty Amongi, at Sheraton Kampala Hotel on Thursday, August 29. The three-year program, an initiative under the German Development Cooperation, is specifically designed to enhance women’s participation in businesses that contribute to the green transformation of the continent. https://www.newvision.co.ug/category/agriculture/germany-eu-and-norad-to-fund-women-businesses-NV_194936    

AGORO IRRIGATION SCHEME IS NON-FUNCTIONAL, MPS TELL MUSEVENI

Agoro irrigation scheme in Lamwo district is among the key government-funded projects that are not functioning well, some Members of Parliament have said. This, they reported to President Yoweri Museveni on Thursday, August 29, 2024, during his address to the parliamentarians at the regional parliamentary sittings in Kaunda Grounds in Gulu city after the President inquired the current state of the scheme. Linda Agnes Auma (Lira District Woman MP) who doubles as the vice-chairperson of the agriculture, animal industry and fisheries committee of Parliament reported that the irrigation scheme that was established for rice plantation and aquaculture is currently not functioning well. https://www.newvision.co.ug/category/agriculture/agoro-irrigation-scheme-is-non-functional-mps-NV_194880 

KIKUUBE FARMERS WITH SMALL LAND WARNED AGAINST GROWING SUGARCANE

Kikuube district farmers with small land have been warned against growing sugarcane if they are to benefit from agriculture and avoid mistreatment from sugar companies. The warning by Kikuube Resident District Commissioner Amlan Tumusiime on Monday, August 26, 2024, was sounded during a mediation meeting between Kikuube sugarcane growers and Kyonjojo district-based Kyenjojo Sugar LTD over alleged mistreatment. The meeting, which attracted over 300 farmers, was organised by Tumusiime after the farmers sought his intervention in what they termed as a failure by Kyenjojo Sugar LTD to respect contractual agreements. https://www.newvision.co.ug/category/agriculture/kikuube-farmers-with-small-land-warned-agains-NV_194850     

ITALY TAKES LION'S SHARE OF UGANDA COFFEE EXPORTS

Italy remained the largest market for Uganda’s coffee exports, accounting for 41.96% of the total market share in June 2024, the finance ministry’s latest report shows. The report, which is on the performance of Uganda’s economy for July 2024, indicates that other significant markets for the country’s coffee exports included Germany, India, Sudan and Spain, accounting for 10.55%, 7.41%, 6.87% and 5.40% of the total exports, respectively. It also shows that coffee export earnings grew by 27.5% to $162.36 million in June, up from $127.30 million in the previous month. “This growth was driven by higher export volumes and an increase in international coffee prices. The increase in coffee export volumes was mainly on account of higher Robusta coffee yields from the Greater Masaka and southwestern regions of Uganda,” it explains. https://www.newvision.co.ug/category/agriculture/italy-takes-lions-share-of-uganda-coffee-expo-NV_194531 

MUSEVENI, AU COMMISSIONER DISCUSS AGRICULTURE SUMMIT

President Yoweri Museveni has met and held discussions with African Union commissioner for agriculture, rural development, blue economy, and sustainable environment Ambassador Josefa Sacko. Sacko, who was accompanied by agriculture minister Frank Tumwebaze, on Wednesday, August 21, 2024, paid a courtesy call on the President at State House Entebbe. President Museveni and his guests discussed preparations for hosting the forthcoming Extraordinary Agricultural Summit of Heads of State and Government in Kampala slated for January 2025. Museveni expressed his profound gratitude for the opportunity to host the summit: "That is music to my ears, and I am very happy to host this summit. The potential for agriculture is huge in Africa. Uganda is really good to peg our agricultural perceptions around what we have saved, because we preserved the indigenous agriculture: cows, goats, bananas, cassava, fish, etc. Our job was to modernize and commercialise our agriculture".
https://www.newvision.co.ug/category/agriculture/museveni-au-commissioner-discuss-agriculture-NV_194436      

TUMWEBZA URGES AU MEMBER STATES TO EMBRACE AGRICULTURE POLICIES

African Union member countries have been asked to design policies that cater for not only smallholder farmers but also medium and large-scale farmers who produce food that meets the needs of human nutrition, food security and animal feeds. The call was made by Frank Tumwebaze, Uganda's agriculture minister, who is also the chairperson Specialised Technical Committee of the African Union on Agriculture Blue Economy Environment and Rural Development. He made the call during a validation meeting of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) at Speke Resort Munyonyo in Kampala on Wednesday, August 21, 2024. https://www.newvision.co.ug/category/agriculture/tumwebza-urges-au-member-states-to-embrace-ag-NV_194412        

PRESIDENT KAGAME HAILS AGRA FOR ENSURING AFRICA PROJECTS A CLEAR VOICE ON FUTURE OF FOOD SYSTEMS

Rwanda President Paul Kagame has commended the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), under the leadership of former Ethiopian PM Hailemariam Dessalegn as Board Chair and  AGRA President Dr. Agnes Kalibata for ensuring that Africa projects a clear voice on future of food systems. “The production of food is the foundation of our economies, and indeed of life itself. In Africa most of our people work in agriculture and agri-business. Significant gains have been made in recent years to make our food systems more resilient and productive but there is still so much room to grow, and make our farmers more productive and therefore more wealthy,” Kagame said. https://www.independent.co.ug/president-kagame-hails-agra-for-ensuring-africa-projects-clear-voice-on-future-of-food-systems-foodsystems-afsforum24-agraimpact-agra_africa/   

AGRA 2024 REPORT OUT: HARNESSING THE PRIVATE SECTOR FOR FOOD SYSTEMS TRANSFORMATION IN AFRICA

The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) has launched its 2024 Africa Agriculture Status Report that highlights the transformative role of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in shaping Africa’s agrifood landscape. It is titled “Harnessing the Private Sector for Food Systems Transformation in Africa.” “By harnessing the power of the private sector, we can drive meaningful food systems transformation and achieve sustainable growth. This report provides actionable insights on supporting MSMEs to enhance their impact on food security and economic development,” said Dr. Agnes Kalibata, President of AGRA at the launch. https://www.independent.co.ug/agra-2024-report-out-harnessing-the-private-sector-for-food-systems-transformation-in-africa/           

IGAD MEMBER STATES CHALLENGED TO INCREASE FINANCING OF AGRICULTURAL SECTOR

The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has raised concern over the slow progress by member states in meeting the commitments made under the Malabo Declaration. The Declaration, signed in 2014 in Equatorial Guinea, set ambitious goals for accelerating agricultural growth, enhancing shared prosperity, and improving livelihoods across Africa, with a target to achieve significant progress by 2025. During the Malabo Summit, African nations pledged to allocate at least 10% of their national budgets to agriculture to boost productivity and eradicate hunger by 2025. However, Dr. Sylvia Henga, IGAD’s Policy, and Food Security Officer, revealed in a press briefing at a regional consultation on the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) in Entebbe that after a decade none of the member states have fulfilled the commitment. https://www.independent.co.ug/igad-member-states-challenged-to-increase-financing-of-agricultural-sector/           

MAYIGA: BUGANDA WILL HELP UCDA REGISTER COFFEE FARMERS

The Prime Minister (Katikkiro) of Buganda Kingdom Charles Peter Mayiga, has said government has no business getting directly involved in managing the coffee sector, and warned of ill-advised plans to phase out the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA). The Katikkiro told coffee stake holders, led by UCDA, aBi and the private sector who visited him Friday in Bulange, that from his seven year experience with the “Mmwanyi Terimba” project, UCDA has all the structures that government lacks to manage farmers. Mmwanyi Terimba is a hugely successful effort led by the Katikkiro to encourage farmers in Buganda to earn a living by growing coffee. Buganda has in 2021 even set up Mwanyi Terimba , a company limited by shares to buy coffee from farmers and also find an external market. https://www.independent.co.ug/mayiga-buganda-will-help-ucda-register-coffee-farmers-to-meet-eudr/       

UGANDA MUST BEAR PRESSURE OF EU DIRECTIVES ON COFFEE FOR MARKET’S SAKE

Time is running out first for Uganda to put in place compliance measures with the new European Union regulations against deforestation during coffee production. The EU Deforestation Regulations (EUDR) direct that imports (of about 600 commodities) should bear fruit that they have not been produced after violation of laws, policies, and policies like environmental degradation, child labor, and land grabbing. For Uganda, the emphasis has been out on coffee because it is their biggest import from the East African country. Uganda also feels pressure regarding coffee because it is her largest commodity export, with the EU accounting for more than half of the market. “Coffee is vital to Uganda’s economy, employing the value chain; so ensuring that our practices meet international standards is essential to secure this crucial economic driver,” said Jane Nalunga, the Executive Director, of SEATINI (Southern and Eastern Africa Trade Information and Negotiations Institute) Uganda. https://www.independent.co.ug/uganda-must-bear-pressure-of-eu-directives-on-coffee-for-markets-sake/     

HOW YOUNG WOMEN CAN FIND OPPORTUNITIES IN AFRICAN AGRICULTURE

By Dace Mahanay, Regional Program Director at STRYDE.

Jennifer, a young mother from Gulu, Uganda, faced bleak prospects after her husband passed away. She had been kicked out of her home by her in-laws and had no job with which to support her family. Without a high school education, she was not optimistic about finding opportunities. “Even casual jobs were not easy to come by, because…not many economically engaging activities were taking place within my village,” she said. Across sub-Saharan Africa, millions of young women like Jennifer are sidelined from economic opportunities. The International Labor Organization found that one third of young women in the region are not working, studying or receiving training, more than double the rate of their male peers. With more than 6 million young women coming of working age every year, African economies must create more new jobs and business opportunities for them. https://farmingfirst.org/2018/05/how-young-women-can-find-opportunities-in-african-agriculture/