The Agriculture Cluster Development Project (ACDP)

In the second project component, the objective is to enhance value addition and market access, by supporting farmer organisations to improve post-harvest handling and processing, and fund the rehabilitation of rural access roads critical for the movement of farm produce to markets. Thus far, Matching Grant guidelines have been developed, and up to 95 farm road chokes along 254 km of road were prioritized for rehabilitation in the five pilot districts, these include: 23 chokes in Kalungu (29.3km), 21 chokes in Ntungamo (54.1km), 23 chokes in Iganga (59.7km), 14 chokes in Amuru (56.6km) and 14 chokes in Nebbi (54km). The road designs and bills of quantities for the pilot districts were developed and finalised in May 2019. Mapping of high production areas in the 37 rollout districts has been concluded.

The new component three was restructured to institute supportive frameworks for key MAAIF functions. These include policy formulation and regulatory functions for agro-inputs and mechanization, and studies on Water for Production; Agricultural statistics; and capacity to manage the Fall Army Worm infestation. In the first instance, the project supported the development of the Plant Protection and Health Regulations, and Guidelines governing certification of vegetatively propagated planting materials.

Prefeasibility studies for 18 potential sites were concluded but the procurement of a consultancy firms to undertake the feasibility studies and detailed engineering designs, and for Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) for 5 selected irrigation schemes in Iganga (Lumbuye, Block A and Block B), Bugiri (Bukagolo), Amuru (Ayila), and Nwoya (Aswa), were re-initiated due to a technicality in the procurement process, and now the process is at request for Expressions of Interest, with a closing date of May 14, 2019.

Of the 30 sites identified as potential for demonstrating smallholder coffee irrigation, drafting of detailed designs for 15 sites has been concluded. Under Agricultural Statistics, a survey has been conducted to establish the quality of agro-inputs on the market, in the project areas with preliminary statistics. To combat the Fall Army Worm (FAW), the Department of Crop Protection and the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) undertook surveys and laboratory studies on the diversity and efficacy of key potential bio-control agents for the Fall Army Worm.

Component 4 finances the incremental operating costs for the Project Coordination Unit, Cluster Multi-Stakeholder Platforms and District Coordination Teams. These include coordination, monitoring, evaluation and development and implementation of web-based, geo-tagged ICT platforms for learning, knowledge management and stakeholders’ feedback. To address environmental and social concerns in the project areas, 244 Grievance Redress Committees were established in the participating sub counties of the 5 pilot districts. The project baseline survey is underway, with the first draft report due in May 2019. The PIM was reviewed and a draft M&E Manual produced.

The Project Grievance Redress Mechanism

As a way of ensuring that challenges which arise during the implementation of the Agriculture Cluster Development Project (ACDP) are met with timely solutions, a Grievance Redress Mechanism and a toll-free number (08001000030) were put in place by the project team.
Here is what you need to know from the Grievance Redress Mechanism in brief:

Why is the Grievance Redress Mechanism important?

The publication describes a number of mechanisms for addressing complaints arising out of the project interventions and provides avenues of addressing complaints that may emerge over time during project implementation. The overall intention is to address community concerns, reduce risks, and assist other processes to create positive impact.

Who is involved in resolving grievances and providing solutions?
The GRM was designed with a committee at every level with one at village level that is chaired by the LC2, one at sub-county level chaired by the LC3 Chairperson, another at District Level chaired by the LC5 Chairperson and the Project team at the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries.

Who can make use of the publications about the Grievance Redress Mechanism?
The guidelines can be used by individuals and organizations involved in the management of grievances and complaints arising from project implementation. Examples of such groupings include; grievance focal persons, Ministry staff, grievance redress committees, hired consultants and contractors, trainers, academicians, and civil society organisations.

What are some of the foreseen grievances during the course of the Agriculture Cluster Development Project?
1. Irrigation schemes – might lead to resultant conflicts in relation to land use, damage on people’s livelihoods, loss of wetland habitat, downstream users may have issues in relation to water abstraction.
2. Road civil works – attachment on cultural resources, sexual harassment, exploitation, child abuse, corruption, HIV/AIDS, child labour, violence
3. Conflicts over ownership of rice fields or wetlands and/or communal access for other uses such as grazing, watering animals, harvesting papyrus for making mats, fishing etc.
4. Conflicts over water resources
5. Issues of livestock grazing and watering in rice fields infrastructure
6. Issues related to compensation and restoration of barrow pits
7. Distribution of agrochemical inputs
8. Location of community access roads and farm roads.