Progress achieved in implementation of 2016 Manifesto

Below is an excerpt of the official statement presented by Hon. Vincent Bamulangaki Ssempijja the Minister for Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries at the media briefing on Manifesto implementation to which he was accompagnied by Mr. Pius Wakabi Kasajja the Permanent Secretary along with other members of the Ministry Top Policy Management.

Agriculture is among the four key sectors highlighted in the Uganda vision 2040 that will greatly contribute to wealth and employment creation. Agriculture remains the main thrust of Uganda’s economic growth.

The sector contributes 25% of national GDP and employs over 70% of Uganda’s population. The sector provides great avenues for economic growth and economic inclusion, particularly from women and youth. Women make up 55% of the economically active population, contribute more than 75% of the total farm labour and over 90% to farm-level primary processing operations. Almost half (45%) of the heads of smallholder farming households are under the age of 40.

The mandate of the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) is “To promote and support sustainable and market oriented agricultural production, food security and household incomes.”

The Vision of the Ministry is “A competitive, profitable and sustainable agricultural sector” while the sector mission is “To transform subsistence farming to commercial agriculture.”

The overall development and growth of the sector is anchored on four strategic objectives or priorities, as outlined in the National Development Plan 2 (NDP2) and the Agriculture Sector Strategic Plan (ASSP) 2015/16 – 2019/20:
• To increase production and productivity of agricultural commodities and enterprises
• To increase access to critical farm inputs
• To improve access to markets and value addition and strengthen the quality of agricultural commodities and
• To strengthen the agricultural services institutions and also create an enabling environment for the sector to grow.

The 2016 NRM manifesto committed to support key strategic commodities to ensure greater impact on household incomes and national export earnings.

Emphasis of the interventions has therefore focused on commodity value chains, focusing on: research; extension; pest, vector and disease control; provision of inputs; promoting sustainable land use and soil management; post-harvest handling; improving market access and infrastructure; and value addition.

A number of interventions have been undertaken by Government in the Agriculture sector that have led to increased employment, increased household incomes, food security and exports.

The Key performance highlights are as indicated below,
1) The 2014 Population and Housing Census figures indicated that close to 80% of the households in the country are involved in agriculture. The sector contribution to the national economy still remains strong. Since FY 2015/16, the sector contribution to national GDP has averaged to 24.3%.

In the same period, the sector annual growth rate rose from 2.8% to 3.8%; We are therefore on the right course towards archiving the 6% annual growth rate Maputo/Malabo declaration undertaking.

The value of agricultural exports increased from USD 1.326 billion to USD 1.730 billion representing a growth of 30.5% in the past three financial years.

For the last three years, the sector has been on track in implementing the 2016 NRM Manifesto whose objective is taking Uganda to modernity through Job creation and Inclusive development. This has been possible through prioritizing and integrating the Manifesto commitments and the presidential directives/resolutions in all the programs as highlighted below.

Manifesto Commitments and Implementation Status

Commitment #1: To support key strategic commodities to ensure greater impact on household incomes and national export earnings. Emphasis of the interventions to focus on provision of planting materials for the key enterprises namely; Maize, Beans, Coffee, Tea & Fruits (Citrus, Mangoes, Pineapples, Apples) through:

Distribution of improved seeds and breeding materials under Operation Wealth Creation.

Ensuring that good quality seedlings are supplied to farmers and ensure prompt payment for the same;

Availing planting materials to farmers well in time to take advantage of rains.

The Ministry through NAADS embarked on the process of putting in place new framework contracts to address challenges of quality of inputs and timely distribution of the inputs. This new process involves registration of nurseries and mother gardens in the respective district local governments.
The new procurement and distribution strategy not only seeks to deepen and localise the production of planting materials and selection of suppliers from within the target beneficiary district or within the closest vicinity to the beneficiary district, but also increases income generating opportunities for our youth and women groups.

1.1 Maize Government of Uganda prioritized Maize due to its high potential for food security and contribution to national export earnings. In the Financial Year 2015/16, maize production in the country stood at 2,246,192 MT and the country exported 308,911 MT worth USD 102.2 million.
Through the NAADS/Operation wealth creation programme, the Ministry distributed a total of 14,688,706 kgs of maize seed to both small holders and commercial farmers in 104 district local governments in the last three years.
Due to this intervention, the production of maize has increased over the past three years with an increasing trend to 3.2 million MT in 2017/2018. In addition, over the last three years, the country exported a total of 1,360,973MT worth USD 352.1 million.

Beans
Beans remains another important food crop, grown by households all over the country with high potential for increasing household incomes. In the FY 2015/16, bean production stood at 1,008,410 MT with exports of 144, 925 MT worth USD 71.8 million.
The Ministry distributed a total of 5,690,229 kgs of bean seed to smallholder farmers in all district local governments that prioritized beans in the past three years.
Due to the Ministry interventions, production of beans increased to 1,218,660MT in 2017/18. In addition, over the past three years, the country exported 339,394MT valued at USD 161.43 million.

Cassava
Cassava has been identified as one of the most important crops in the recent years, and our research shows that we can produce various products including flour, animal feed, alcohol, starches for sizing paper and textiles among others. The Ministry has therefore strategically developed programs to promote research into high yielding and climate resilient varieties which are now being disseminated in the areas with the best production potential.

In the FY 2015/16, Cassava production stood at 3,023,450 MT in FY 2015/16.
The Ministry through the NAADS/OWC programme provided support to both small holders and commercial cassava farmers in more than 60 district local governments that prioritized cassava. A total of 577,219 bags of cassava cuttings were distributed. This led to the increase in cassava production to 3,449,200MT in 2017/18.

Coffee
Coffee is the principal export for Uganda. In line with the Presidential Directive made in December 2015 for the coffee sector to raise production from 4 million 60 kg bags to 20 million 60 kg bags, UCDA embarked on a process to actualize this directive in collaboration with the Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit (PMDU).
In the Financial Year 2015/16, coffee production stood at 4.46 million (60 kg) bags and the volume of coffee exports was 3.56 million (60 kg) bags valued at USD 351 million.
During the past three financial years, government through UCDA has distributed 544,530,184 coffee seedlings to coffee farming households across the five regions of the country

In the FY 2017/18, coffee production stood at 5.63 million (60 kg) bags and the volume of coffee exports was 4.45 million (60 kg) bags valued at USD 492 million which represented a 40% increase in value.

Tea
The sector targets to produce 112,000 mt of tea by 2020, with exports valued at approximately US$155 million.
During the past three financial years, the ministry through NAADS/OWC has distributed 396,183,050 tea seedlings in 21 tea growing districts and there is marked increase in leaf production,
In the FY 2017/18, tea production stood at 74,201 MT with exports of 67,582 MT worth USD. 91.7Millions. Reports indicate over production of leaf in some districts over the existing tea processing capacities, as is the case of Kyenjojo, Kabarole, Kanungu and Buhweju.
The sector interventions together with the farmers’ own initiatives has stimulated establishment of more tea factories from 27 to 33 factories including 2 new ones established in Kabale and Kisoro with the support from the Government. Additionally, 15 new tea factories are being established and are at different levels in several districts including; Kyenjojo (2), Buhweju (4), Kanungu (1), Bushenyi (1), Rukiga (1), Kisoro (1), Ntungamo (1), Kamwenge (1), Mbarara (1) and Luwero (1).

Fruits (Citrus, Mangoes, Pineapples, Apples)
In the last three financial years, support towards production of fruits focused on provision of seedlings tolerant to pests and diseases and with desirable fresh and processing characteristics, improvement in post-harvest handling and establishment of processing facilities for citrus, mangoes, apples and pineapples in 10 district local governments. A total of 39,626,513 citrus seedlings; 25,917,115 mango seedlings; 2,214,895 apple seedlings and 31,859,962 pineapple suckers were distributed.
The 39,626,513 citrus seedlings are projected to result into an estimated acreage of 181,622 acres. This is expected to produce approximately 4.5 Million Tonnes which will translate to UGX 4.5Trillion.
The 25,917,115 mangoes seedlings are projected to result into an estimated acreage of 194,378 acres. This is expected to produce approximately 3.1 Million tonnes which will translate to UGX 3.1 Trillion.
The 2,214,895 apple seedlings are projected to result into an estimated acreage of 4,363 acres. This is expected to produce approximately 47,989 tons which will translate to UGX 141.5 Billion.

Due to the above interventions, Government through NAADS in partnership with Alvan Blanch – UK Company, have earmarked funds for establishing fruit processing factories starting with locations in Nwoya, Nakaseke, and Kayunga commencing FY 2018/19; with 2 additional fruit factories planned in Busoga and Greater Masaka sub regions in FY 2019/20.

Cocoa
Cocoa is ranked among the high value export commodities that offer great economic opportunities for increasing farmers’ incomes and foreign exchange earnings for the country.
In the financial year 2015/16, Cocoa exports stood at 29,760.50 MT worth USD 74,996 million. The Ministry through NAADS/OWC has distributed a total of 17,615,757 cocoa seedlings to both small holders and commercial farmers in district local governments that prioritize cocoa production in the three years. Due to this intervention Export volumes are expected to rise once the planted materials have reached maturity

Commitment #2: Support companies, individuals in livestock breeding in order to meet the demand within the country for dairy cows, poultry and pigs
The interventions in the area of livestock aimed at increasing production and productivity of priority livestock for improved household food, nutrition and income security; as well as export earnings. It is worth noting that these interventions put special emphasis on special interest groups, especially youth and women and beneficiaries in urban and semi-urban areas.
Status
Through the National Animal Genetic Resource Centre and Databank:
• The Government is promoting crossing local animals, to F1-50% and F 2-75% which can produce 12 and 18 liters of milk per day respectively. With F1 a farmer with good management gets 1.5 million Uganda shillings per animal per year. Six Cows of 75% dairy crosses earns more than 20million a year from milk.
• NAGRC has improved the beef animal’s average daily weight gain to 250 gms per day with F1- 50% and this has reduced the market age tremendously from 3-4 years to 1- 1.5 years.
• Kroiler chicken which are disease resistant and faster growth have been introduced. The Kuroiler hens lays between 150-200 eggs in a year compared to the 40eggs produced by the indigenous birds. Cocks weigh between 3-4 kg within four months. 2, 305,194 were distributed to 5,500 households and 40,000 birds have been exported to the regional markets.
• Through genetic improvement NAGRC&DB goats have been improved to reach an average daily weight gain (ADG) to 145g/day compared to 25 – 30 g/day for the local goats which is an increase in household income by 67% per goat from sales.
• Early maturing pigs have been introduced where they can produce at 10 months at an estimated weigh of 80-90 kgs live weight compare to the locals one year and two months at an average weight of 40-60 Kgs. Breeds such as Comborough can produce over 14 piglets (28 piglets/animal/year) and at 150,000/-” translates into 4,200,000/= per sow/year.

Commitment #3: Support companies, Uganda Prison Services, individuals and companies involved in seed production and other planting materials to invest.
Status:
The National Seed Policy was by Cabinet and regulations were gazetted to provide a regulatory framework for the private sector to invest in the seed sub sector.
The National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) has strengthened its capacity to produce breeder and foundation seed to key strategic food security and income generating commodities for multiplication by the private.

The Ministry supplied 600,860 coffee wilt disease resistant plantlets to 308 nursery operators for mother gardens establishment.
A total of 1,236 farmers from Bushenyi, Kibaale, Rakai and Wakiso were trained in bean seed production and utilization of different bean based products.

Commitment #4: Enhance capacity of young farmers to engage in market/commercial agriculture and initiate a youth fund for mechanized agriculture
Status:
The National Strategies for Youth Employment in Agriculture and that of Knowledge Management and communication were disseminated during FY2017/2018. In order to improve the youth post-harvest handling and storage management skills, seven youth groups from Masindi, Kiryandongo, Iganga and Jinja were mobilized and trained in sustainable market linkages along the rice and maize value chains.

In the dairy sub-sector, to enhance value addition, a total of 216 dairy stakeholders; majority being the youth were skilled in value addition especially on how to make yoghurt, cheese and ice-cream. Most of the trainees have already established dairy cottages and others are employed along the value chain as a result of the trainings. There has also been a deliberate effort to target youths and women while distributing inputs, planting and breeding materials

Commitment #5: Modernize Agriculture to provide raw materials for industries and boost export earnings

Status
Agriculture modernization involves improvement in agronomic practices including use of improved technologies, provision of extension services, control of pests, vectors and diseases, mechanization, irrigation, among other. The Ministry has made tremendous strides toward modernized agriculture as a result boosting export earnings from USD 1.326 in 2015/16 bn to USD 1.730 bn in 2017/18 representing a growth of 30.5% implemented the following interventions.
The ministry has developed an irrigation policy and was approved by Cabinet which provides a regulatory framework for the private and public investments, defines the roles of MAAIF and MWE in irrigation.

The ministry in the last four (4) years has constructed over 1200 tanks in various regions of the country to enable on farm water harvesting. The ministry has committed to work with Ministry of Water and Environment (MWE) to construct large scale irrigation schemes to promote commercial production. The ministry has completed rehabilitation of the old irrigation schemes of Agoro, Mubuku and Doho.

Currently the ministry continues to work with Ministry of Water and Environment (MWE) to construct irrigation schemes under Farm Income Enhancement and Forestry Conservation (FIEFOC ll). These include Wadelai, Tochi, Mobuku ll, Doho ll and Ngenge.

In a bid to improve mechanization, the Ministry is in the process of establishing/revamping regional agriculture mechanization centers starting with 2 centers namely; Agwata mechanization centre in Dokolo to cover northern and eastern Uganda; and Buwama mechanization centre in Masaka district to cover the south western region will be completed.

The Ministry continues to ensure that tractor brands brought into the country are suitable for Uganda’s conditions through regular testing of the new brands brought into the country by the private sector. The ministry also procured 12 heavy earth moving equipment and 284 tractors to be distributed within the district local governments, as detailed in commitment area #16

Cotton sub-sector Development; The Ministry has continued to promote cotton growing in order to sustain the country’s textile industries and for export of yarn. During FY 2017/18, Government in partnership with private sector (cotton ginners) supplied 2,647 Mt of seed to farmers in addition to other inputs. These interventions resulted in establishment of an estimated 270,000 acres of cotton which produced 202,357 bales of cotton lint in FY 2017/18.

The government has also constructed a new cotton seed processing plant in Pader district to process planting cotton seed for the farmers.
The government established the Lint Buffer Stock Fund in 2014/15 to avail raw materials (lint) to local cotton textile manufacturers to support domestic value addition. The Fund procured a total of 3,000 bales in 2016/17 and 11,500 bales in 2017/18 which were supplied to Southern Range Nyanza Ltd and Fine Spinners (U) Ltd. The two textile mills offer direct employment to over 3,430 people and produce about 570,000 pieces of garments per month.
It is equally important to note that, six cotton wool manufacturing firms (Mutuuma Commercial Agencies Ltd, Nile Surgicot Ltd, South Base Agro Industries Ltd, Anik Industries (U) Ltd, Viva Holdings Ltd and Gulf Cotton Ltd) produce absorbent surgical cotton wool and Mama Kits from locally grown cotton. They employ about 300 people and produce over 700 Mt of surgical cotton wool annually.
As a result of the developments in the cotton sub-sector, Nine oil mills including; Nile Agro Industries Ltd, Mutuuma Commercial Agencies, Singo United Investments Ltd, Wamala Growers Cooperative Union Ltd, Ekirya Atabaala General Merchandise Ltd, Kasese Oil Mill Ltd, Pasha Oil Millers, Western Uganda Cotton Company Ltd and Twin Brothers Company Ltd) produce edible oil, cottonseed cake and soap stock from cottonseed. These employ a total of about 600 people and produce a combine total of over
2,000 Mt of edible oil and approximately 12,000 Mt of cottonseed cake use in animal feeds annually.
The Ministry through the Oil Palm Development project in Kalangala, established 10,924 hectares of oil palm by both the smallholder farmers and BIDCO Uganda Limited. BIDCO has constructed two (02) Palm Oil Mills on the islands which have so far received 92.3 MT of oil palm fresh fruit bunches from the smallholders alone.

The oil palm fruits have earned the smallholder farmers UGX 46.7 billion since 2010. By December 2018, a total of 1,810 farmers (36% female) were benefiting from the oil palm smallholder scheme with 1,080 farmers already harvesting from 3,021 hectares of mature oil palms and earned UGX 1.2 Bn each month.

An average of UGX 1.1 million is earned by each farmer per month for 25 years. The private sector partner, BIDCO is currently producing 27,198 tons of crude palm oil per year and pays Government of Uganda taxes worth UGX 157.4 billion per year.
In a related development, the Ministry has supported production of sunflower, soybeans, ground nuts and sim-sim in 51 districts spread across Eastern, Northern, West Nile and Western regions. The Ministry contracted 11 private extension service providers to provide oil seeds value chain services to the project beneficiaries. Production of sunflower, soybeans, ground nuts and sesame has increased across the target area, leading to an increase in mill capacity utilization from 34% in 2015 to 56% in 2018. Our oil seed farmers have also realized an increase in the sunflower yield per hectare from 0.9 tons per hectare in 2014 to 1.3 tons per hectare in 2017; the soybean yield per hectares has also increased from 0.6 tons per hectare in 2014 to 0.9 tons per hectare in 2017. This has increased the incomes of our oil seeds farmers per unit area under production.

The Ministry, through the Dairy Development Authority (DDA) continues to develop and regulate the dairy sub-sector to ensure increased production and consumption of milk, and, a sustainable and profitable dairy industry sector that contributes to economic development and improved nutritional standards in Uganda.

Milk production has increased from 1.5 billion litres in 2010 to 2.5 billion litres in 2018 and the Ministry projects that production will reach 3.35 billion litres of milk by the end of 2019. Marketed milk stood at 84% of the total production in 2017 and will increase further after Government completes the rehabilitation of more milk collection centres. The value of marketed milk has continued to increase each year with a 15% increase from USD 716 million in 2015 to USD 850 million (about UGX 3.1 trillion) in 2018.
In FY 2016/17 our milk processing capacity stood at 1.9 million litres daily and increased to 2 million litres by the end 2017/18. Due to increased compliance of Uganda’s milk and milk products on both regional and international markets, the value of our dairy exports increased from USD 60 million in 2016 and reached USD 143 million in 2018.

Commitment #6: Ensure self-sufficiency in rice production as well as promoting growing of upland rice to avoid destruction of wetlands

Status
The Ministry through its research arm, NARO, released and promoted 14 upland rice early maturing and drought tolerant varieties. The varieties are resistant to rice yellow mottle.
NARO has availed 10 MT of foundation seed to seed multipliers. The new varieties established have the potential to increase per capita income in Uganda by US$ 16.
The six major commercial farmers took upland rice as their major commercial enterprises included Omer Farm, (4,000 ha cropped rice each year), Vinayak Agro Farm Limited (7,000 ha cropped rice each year), Amatheon Limited (1,000 ha cropped rice each year), Victoria Farm (8,000 ha cropped rice a year), Panyimur Farm (1,000 ha cropped rice a year) and Farmers group (600 ha cropped rice per year).
Rice production therefore increased from 237,390 MT in 2016 to 264,530 MT in 2018 and Rice exports increased from 44,911 MT in 2016 to 52,662 MT in 2018 accounting for USD 20,274,000 and USD 26,900,000 respectively

Commitment #7: Promote cassava production in northern and eastern Uganda, and seek investors to establish factories for value-addition and production of cassava-related products

Status
7.1 Cassava is a predominantly staple food crop and it’s also becoming a strong agent for import substitution as it’s targeted to contribute about USD 30 million per year in import-substitution.
7.2 In the last three years, the following interventions have been undertaken to promote cassava production in northern and eastern Uganda:
• production and distribution of clean planting material resistant to crop pests and diseases (high yielding varieties like NASE14, TME14, BAM);
• developing monitoring and diagnosis systems for pests and diseases, provision of support for marketing and establishment of adequate storage utilities for fresh cassava roots; support cassava farmers and SMEs to engage in processing of quality flour and chips, as well as agribusiness enterprises.
• Also, twelve (12) acres of cassava seed multiplication site has been maintained by NaCRRI. Due to these interventions, Cassava production has increased from 3,023,450 MT in FY 2015/16 to 3,449,200 MT IN FY2017/18

In a bid to further commercialize cassava production, Government through NAADS is supporting an Integrated Cassava Industry Development Project for Northern Uganda (ICIDP), initiated by Gulu Catholic Arch Diocese to address rural poverty and stimulate industrialization of this commodity in Northern Uganda.

Commitment #8: Use four Acre-Land-Model as part of the National Strategy for commercialization of agriculture
Status:
The Directorate of Agriculture Extension Services carried out trainings of extension staff and non-state actors on the principles of the four Acre-Land-Model that will be piloted based on the concept of the Village Agent Model
a) The Nucleus Farmer and Parish Model farmer concepts have been submitted to Cabinet for approval. The model is meant to streamline ways in which Government can empower progressive farmers in specific value chains to be the means of creating linkages between Government, Local Governments, Extension services, input dealers, NAADS/ OWC activities, Financial and Insurance service providers, Agriculture Research and other private sector value chain actors. The model is also meant to mobilize farmers into groups and higher-level producer marketing associations and link the farmers to input dealers, traders and financial services.

Commitment #9: Provide 18 million hand hoes to support agricultural production among small farmers

Status:
So far, the Ministry has procured and distributed 420,000 hoes to support 420,000 farming households in 8 District Local Governments (DLGs) of Arua, Nebbi, Koboko, Maracha, Yumbe, Zombo, Adjumani, Ngora and Moyo.

Commitment #10: Roll out the single spine extension services system to districts by ensuring that every sub-county has veterinary, agricultural and where applicable fisheries officers
Status:
Following the adoption of the Single Spine Extension System, Government embarked on the recruitment drive of Agricultural Extension Staff in Local Governments. 3,872 extension workers have been recruited which is 78% of the targeted 5000 extension workers to be recruited. This has resulted to the reduction in the ratio of extension worker to farmer from 1:5000 in FY2015/16 to 1:1800 in FY2017/18.
The Ministry with support from International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) procured and distributed 1,061 motorcycles and 126 vehicles to support mobility of agricultural extension staff.

Commitment #11: Increase Investment in improved post-harvest handling storage and value-addition for commercial farming and transformation of small holders and peasant agriculture
Status:
The Government has signed an agreement with a foreign investment company, M/s Alvan Blanch based in UK, to create partnerships with our local investors in order to boost value addition especially in the area of cereals including but not limited to Rice and Maize.

The objective is to establish processing facilities including driers, cleaners and sorters with storage capacity of 4,000 tonnes each in the next 5 years. Other interventions include:

The World Food Program supported capacity building activities of both farmers and agricultural extension staff in postharvest handling in more than 40 districts.
Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) continued to support agro-processing and marketing activities including post-harvest handling and storage in pilot demonstration centers in Masindi, Kiryandongo, Jinja and Iganga.
The Ministry through DDA, Procured 20 sets of milk coolers and matching generators; also distributed and installed 20 Milk Coolers and Matching Generators in 10 Districts-Kiruhura, Sembabule, Lyantode Nakaseke, Kamuli, Serere, Kwen, Busia, Kyankwazi and Gomba; with funds from FY 2016/17 Budget.

Commitment #12: Enhance co-ordination of the production value chain from the farmers to the final consumer through OWC
Status:
The National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) has, since the refocusing of its mandate to supporting farmers with the provision of agricultural inputs through the implementation of Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) programme, There has been remarkable coordination improvement in this program as evidenced by increased acreage, production and productivity of the distributed inputs.

Currently, planting materials (seed & seedlings) and stocking/livestock materials are based on both national priority commodities and Zonal/district specific priority commodities for particular agro-ecological zones and districts. Emphasis will also focus on Tea, Fruits (Citrus, Mangoes Apples and Pineapples) and Cocoa which are an important component of the four-acre model.
In addition to that, there has been improved Support to Agricultural Value Chains Development under NAADS/OWC coordination, where, Medium scale fruit processing equipment; Motorised; Maize milling equipment (grinding mills-hullers, shellers, etc.); Milk coolers and generators; Rice milling equipment (threshers, hullers-polishers, cleaners, graders, etc.) have been procured and distributed.

Commitment #13: Restructuring relevant government institutions to enhance the effectiveness of OWC
Status:
Under the restructuring, NAADS was restructured and the staff at LGs were integrated into the single spine extension service.
The Directorate of Agricultural Extension Services (DAES) was established to reorganize the agricultural extension service into a harmonized, well-coordinated and integrated delivery system.

Commitment #14: Ministry of Local Government should instruct CAOs to issue guidelines to Parish Chiefs to guide their supervision of OWC activities
Status:
The Minister of Local Government issued a circular to all Chief Administrative officers dated, 8th December, 2016 on seven (7) additional responsibilities of Parish (Muluka) chiefs which include monitoring and supervising Operation wealth creation (OWC) as well as other Government interventions.
The Agriculture extension conditional grant guidelines for FY 2019/20 have provided for facilitation of the the Parish chiefs to maintain the farmer register which analyses various data including the quality and quantity of inputs supplied to farmers.

Commitment #15: Promote use of manure, organic fertilizers, inorganic fertilizers and appropriate irrigation technology to beat climate change challenges.
Status:
Following the formulation of the fertilizer policy and strategy by the Ministry, Government undertook the construction of the Tororo Sukulu fertilizer factory which project is in the advanced stages of construction. The Sukulu fertilizer factory is almost complete through a Public Private Partnership and will produce 300,000 tons of fertilizers; 300,000 tons of steel products; 200,000 tons of sulphuric acid; 300,000 tons of gypsum; 100,000 tons of Rare Earth Elements (REE) minerals; and 40,000 tons of Niobium annually.

The Ministry is undertaking a comprehensive update of the national soil suitability maps. This will help the farming community to understand exactly what kind of fertilizers are suitable for each farming region in Uganda. This will also help the Extension workers to recommend the right fertilizers to be used in a particular farming area for a particular commodity. Therefore, Government will complete the already ongoing exercise of updating the National Soil Suitability Maps. This which will involve our researchers in NARO, Makerere University, the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development and the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development.

The Ministry is also updating the National Agriculture Zoning Strategy to suit the current geological settings and emerging strategic commodities in various parts of the country. The revised National Zoning Strategy will be used by the private sector to make investment decisions. The National Zoning Strategy will map the Agricultural production zones for food security and farmer incomes; identify the enterprises of high export potential for each zone based on Competitive and Comparative Advantages.

In the meantime, the Ministry is focusing on creating mindset change among farming communities and educating the farmers on the importance of fertilizers to increased productivity. This is being undertaken through providing fertilizers for demonstration focusing on strategic commodities. Fertilizers are being provided through Government intervention of NAADS/ OWC, Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA), Cotton Development Organisation (CDO), the Vegetable Oil Development Project in Kalangala and under the sunflower and soybeans projects.

Government is also demonstrating how the use of ICT can increase efficiency in the distribution of inputs such as fertilizers through the E- Voucher system under the new Agriculture Cluster Development Project which is being implemented in 42 districts.
To increase availability of water for agriculture production at farm level through digging at least 520 valley tanks of between 5,000 to10,000 cubic meters of water; giving priority to areas affected by the recent drought and food shortages.

The Ministry has excavated and rehabilitated 163 Valley tanks/Dams (2,759,800 Cubic meters) for provision of water for livestock, aquaculture and irrigation in the 29 districts across the country using the heavy equipment sets.
In addition, 6,500,000m³ of water was hauled/transported to refill the dry or empty water facilities using water Bowsers (Tanks) for Aquaculture, livestock and Irrigation during the dry spell especially in the cattle corridor or drought affected districts of Kiruhura, Mbarara, Isingiro, Kiboga, Mityana, Wakiso, Luwero, Nakasongola, Nakaseke, Gomba, Mpigi, Masaka, Kalungu, Rakai, Mukono and Sheema.

Pre-feasibility studies for development of rice irrigation schemes in Iganga, Bugiri, Namutumba, Pallisa, Butalejja, Tororo, Serere, Soroti, Dokolo, Lira, Nwoya, Amuru and Hoima have been conducted.

In addition, Development of Solar powered irrigation schemes at all the nine (9) Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institutes (ZARDIs) under NARO namely; Rwebitaba, Mukono, Nabuin, Bulindi, Ngeta, Mbarara, Abi, Karengyere and Ikulwe has been undertaken. This is in addition to Solar water pumping systems (solar pump, solar array, electrical components) for small scale farm level irrigation systems in 13 Districts: i.e. Katakwi, Kibuku, Kamuli, Bukedea, Buikwe, Kayunga, Mpigi, Lyantonde, Kiruhura, Mbarara, Kamwenge and Rubirizi, Mukono

Commitment #16: Promote mechanization by availing machinery for hire at affordable rates
Status:
The Ministry has finalized formulation of the new Agriculture Mechanization Policy which will soon be tabled to Cabinet. The policy is meant to streamline farmers’ access to mechanization equipment, streamline tractor hire services, streamline access to credit for mechanization equipment and also guide private sector investments in agriculture mechanization/ tractorization.

To this effect, the Ministry has trained 50 private heavy equipment operators, engineers, technicians, and mechanics in equipment operation, maintenance and management. The Ministry has so far recruited 33 Senior Agricultural Engineers in 33 district Local Governments.

The Ministry has procured 12 heavy earth moving equipment and 284 tractors and implements have been procured. Using these equipment, a total of 15,063 Acres of farm land has been restored, opened and bush cleared for agriculture use through felling of the trees, removal of stamps, obstacles, anthills, and scaping to ease ploughing and any farm operations to be carried out. As a result, the proportion of households using tractors increase from 2% in 2010 to 7.3% in the financial year 2017/18.

In addition, 182 farm access roads of total 804Kms have been improved and opened using the heavy equipment sets to improve mobility, interconnectivity, and market access in the districts of Kalangala, Luwero, Wakiso, Mpigi, Mukono, Kiruhura, Masaka, Gomba and Nakasongola.
16.3 Using wheel tractors, 4,450 Acres of farm land were opened, ploughed and planted in Kabong (Ikk), Lamwo, Amuru, Nwoya, Gulu, Pader, Kiryadongo, Hoima, Wakiso, Kayunga, Kamuli, Kumi, Bukedea, Soroti, Serere, Bugiri, Mayuge, Mpigi, Nakaseke, Nakasongola, Iganga, Mukono and Luwero districts. The opened and ploughed areas have been used for coffee, maize, pasture, livestock, cassava, cotton, vegetables and citrus fruits farming.

Commitment #17: Invest in research in diseases and pests control
Status:
The Ministry through NARO developed, released and promoted three coffee wilt disease resistant and high cup quality clones. The varieties NARO KR8, NARO KR9, and NARO KR10 yield 3.1, 3.9 and 4.8 t/ha/year respectively.
To fight animal diseases, NARO developed two anti-tick vaccines to effectively control blue ear ticks (Boophilus decoloratus) and two (2) bio-acaricide formulations to manage the emerging challenge of tick resistance to available acaricides, (3) drugs botanical de-wormers for control of internal (Nematode, Cestode and Trematode worms) and external parasites in ruminants. In a related development, NARO has developed African Swine Fever (AFS) diagnostic kit prototype, a rapid and cheap on-farm detection of ASF. This is in addition to the designing of the national tick distribution map to guide tick control programs and initiatives.

To fight tsetse flies, NARO developed the NARO-Ngu trap which captures 106 flies per day compared to 22 flies trapped by the pyramidal trap.
To boost the poultry and fisheries sub-sectors, through feeds, NARO developed a green protein feed Supplement for both poultry and fish feeds. It replaces the fish ingredient in poultry diets by 16% and the farmer saves UGX 100 per KG of feed resulting into a total saving of UGX 500 per bird.
17.5 Over 96 various crops varieties (maize, beans, soya bean, ground nuts, cassava, sorghum, etc ) have been released among which include 32 disease-resistant and nutrition enhanced varieties to ensure increased production and productivity.

Commitment #18: Ensuring that Agro Processing is done together with strict disease control.
Status:
The Ministry recruited additional 14 Veterinary and 24 Agriculture Inspectors to beef up certification services. The Ministry is also building the capacity of the recruited extension workers on the recommended farm-based disease control practices. The Government is emphasizing the role of the farmers to appreciate that their farm-based pest and disease related decisions determine the quality of the value-added products produced and marketed.

MAAIF is also rehabilitating and equipping its laboratories at Entebbe, Namalere to support evidence-based decision making in disease management. This will also enhance the testing of products to ensure they meet the international regulations and standards.
The Ministry has put in place mechanisms for surveillance and early detection of crop pests and diseases, and through regional collaborations, the major diseases affecting crop production are being controlled. For example, Government has come up with mechanisms to control the Fall Army Worm which was a problem in 2016. Government also came up with mechanisms of controlling the banana bacterial wilt. Through research, the Ministry continues to study and come up with both biological and chemical means of tackling the major crop pests and diseases which are often caused by global climatic changes.

Commitment #19: Strengthen regulation and surveillance to ensure that the right pesticides, insecticides and acaricides are on the market
To strengthen the regulatory function of the Ministry, the Ministry has finalized and submitted three (03) Regulations on Agricultural Chemicals (Control) Act 2006 for approval. These include;
a. Regulation on pesticides
b. Regulations on fertilizers
c. Regulations on application equipment
The Ministry has intensified the inspection and certification of Seeds, plants and plant products and agrochemicals. In this arrangement; 4,462,796 coffee bags were certified for export, 26,411 ha of crop fields were inspected and 26,400 ha certified, conducted Distinctness, Uniformity, and Stability (DUS) trials for 44 candidate varieties where 15 varieties were approved and released, approved 266 agro input dealers and their premises for registration, Inspected and certified 235,000MT of plants and plant products worth 569Million USD for export, Inspected 247 seed stockists and premises and complied the standards and approved 97 chemical products for registration.

Commitment #20: Continue with the Agricultural Finance Credit scheme operated through commercial banks with support from the Government with a view of keeping interest rates low. Furthermore, partner with some microfinance institutions to reach out to more farmers. Also, work with the insurance sector to design measures that ease insurance in agriculture in order to increase agriculture financing and sensitize farmers on this undertaking
Status:
Government is implementing the Insurance Agriculture Scheme (UAIS through the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic development, and it’s a Public Private Partnership between the government of Uganda and private sector (Insurance companies). Ush 10 billion has so far been released as a subsidy for mainly small-scale farmers to promote their interest in the agriculture risk management tool.

The funds are for sensitization and awareness on insurance basics, premium subsidy, data support and fostering lending to the agriculture sector by financial institutions. The uptake of agriculture insurance has increased from 3000 beneficiaries to 65,000 beneficiaries.
Commitment #21: Invest in agricultural marketing infrastructure such as storage facilities to reduce post-harvest loses including encouraging district councils to pass by-laws that discourage drying of produce on open grounds
Status:

Government through MAAIF has signed an MoU with a foreign investment company Alvan Blanch from UK to create partnerships with our local investors in order to boost value addition including establishment of storage facilities especially in the area of cereals i.e. Rice, Maize e.t.c. The objective is to establish processing facilities including driers, cleaners and sorters with storage capacity of 4,000 tonnes each in the next 5 years. This is in addition to interventions by the World Food Program and Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) as mentioned above.

Commitment #22: Create a regulatory body to ensure that Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) are domesticated and complied with attain internationally acceptable standards of our products.
Status:
In addition to interventions mentioned above intended to strengthen the regulatory, inspection and certification services, the Ministry developed the National Seed Implementation strategy 2018 and submitted to cabinet for approval.
Also, the Ministry developed and disseminated the Tea Strategy and guidelines for seedling production, procurement and distribution in the 22 Tea Growing Districts. The Ministry finalised the National Aflatoxin and Mycotoxin Mitigation Action Plan, and developed the Horticulture Export promotion strategies, developed and disseminated Post-Harvest Handling Guidelines for Maize, Beans and Rice, and developed five (05) commodity Handbooks for Cassava, Rice, Beans, Coffee and Maize.

Commitment #23: Continue to establish value –addition processing factories where response from the private sector is slow
Status:
Government is pursuing partnerships with the private sector to establish processing facilities to increase market access by our farmers, reduce imports and increase exports of value-added commodities. on-going interventions to boost industrialization include:
a. Mango processing plant for farmers in Yumbe district is on-going and Juice factory in Soroti is due to start. Also, a Tea factory in Kabale has been initiated.
b. Six cotton wool manufacturing firms mentioned earlier,
c. The Nine oil mills,
d. The over 110 vegetable oil mills invested in the Eastern and Northern Uganda as well as the two palm oil mills in Kalangala and a palm oil refinery in Jinja by BDCO in partnership with Government.

Government created a conducive environment and refined the regulations governing dairy production and processing. Government further divested its former Uganda Dairy Cooperation. These interventions have led to increased milk processing capacity which was projected to have increased to 2 million litres by the end 2017/18

In a bid to increase the quality of beef exports, the Ministry completed construction and equipping of Katonga animal holding grounds and so far construction and equipping of animal holding ground in Kyankwanzi, NALI stands at 90%

Commitment #24: Create a regulatory body responsible for policing the lakes against illegal fishing
Status:
The Government approved the new Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy which was to guide sustainable fishing activities on the major water bodies and also guide public and private investments in aquaculture.
The Ministry registered and licensed 12,274 vessels, and 26,320 fishers by the end of December 2018 on all water bodies with a view of eliminating illegal fishing activities.
The Ministry, strengthened enforcement of sustainable fisheries rules and regulations along the major water bodies through the Fisheries Protection Unit.
As a result of these interventions, the declining trend of the quantity and value of fish and fish products has been reversed. The Ministry has registered a 31% increase in Nile perch fish stocks and a general improvement in fish stocks of other species on Lake Victoria.

This has resulted in the re-opening of 4 fish factories – Gomba (in Jinja), Iftra (in Kampala), Marine and Agro (in Jinja) and Ngenge (Kampala), increase in the operational capacity of all fish factories from 91Mt per day in 2017 to 150 Mt per day in 2018 and a 26% increase in the value of fish exports 2017 to 2018.
The country has started realizing an increase in income from fish exports which has increased from USD 115.15 million in 2015/16 to USD 145.53 million in 2017/18. The Ministry will also continue to restock the major water bodies.
In addition, Construction of model communal aquaculture parks in Kalangala and in Apac will commence in FY 2019/20. These are pilot model parks which if successful will be rolled out to other parts of the country, targeting women and youths.

Commitment #25: Establish seven zonal agro-processing facilities at Arua, Soroti, Luwero, Kayunga, Ntungamo, Masaka and Kasese to provide access to quick processing of agricultural products and ease marketing
Status:
The Government established a fruit processing facility in Soroti
Government also provided a conducive environment for the private sector to set up the Kapeeka Industrial Park in Nakaseke District in Luwero triangle.
The AgriLED initiative has been formed by Government to provide comprehensive production and value addition capacity in the greater Rwenzori.

Commitment #26: Eliminate common livestock diseases like foot-and-mouth in order to promote the export of beef and other livestock products such as poultry and pork
Status:
The Ministry procured one million three hundred thousand (1,300,000) dozes of assorted animal vaccines for FMD, Rabies and CBPP. The Ministry also carried out interventions for the Fall Army Worm and Banana Bacterial Wilt (BBW) in 92 districts across the country. Trials of a new acaricide (Vectorclor) to deal with resistant ticks was carried out and was 85% successful. The acaricide zoning strategy and implementation plan to manage movement of acaricides across zones after cleansing in the 27 affected districts. A proposal to produce animal vaccines is also in place.

The National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) has also developed the following:
• two anti-tick vaccines to effectively control blue ear ticks (Boophilus decoloratus)
• two (2) bio-acaricide formulations to manage the emerging challenge of tick resistance to available acaricides.
• (3) drugs botanical de-wormers. for control of internal (Nematode, Cestode and Trematode worms) and external parasites in ruminants
• a national tick distribution map to guide tick control programs and initiatives.
• African Swine Fever (AFS) diagnostic kit prototype, a rapid and cheap on-farm detection of ASF.
• NARO-Ngu trap which captures 106 flies per day compared to 22 flies trapped by the pyramidal trap.
• A green protein feed Supplement for both poultry and fish feeds. It replaces the fish ingredient in poultry diets by 16% and the farmer saves UGX 100 per KG of feed resulting into a total saving of UGX 500 per bird.
• And released 32 disease-resistant and nutrition enhanced varieties to ensure increased production and productivity.

Commitment #27: Support and Strengthen cooperatives and farmer groups as vehicles to empower farmers to store, add value and collectively market farmers’ produce
Status:
The Ministry has developed a working mechanism with line ministries and agencies including Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, in collaboration with national level farmer oriented organizations including Uganda Cooperative Alliance and Uganda National Farmers Federation in formulating strategies for strengthening farmer institutions and organizations, including farmer groups, commodity associations, platforms, federations and co-operatives to enhance the Capacity of farmers to participate and benefit from the NAADS/OWC interventions.
In the meantime, Government development projects and programs are building the capacity of farmers to form strong farmer groups and associations through which they will be able to aggregate demand for inputs and aggregate their produce to demand better prices.