Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries
Tel:+256 (0) 414 531411 | Fax: 256 414 255183
Email: ps@agriculture.go.ug | Web:www.agriculture.go.ug
Location: Plot 5, Kyadondo Road.Block A, Legacy Towers Nakasero,Kampala, Uganda Postal Address: P.O. Box 34518, Kampala, Uganda  MAAIF: Government to use enterprise selection strategy to transform agriculture Government is to use the enterprise selection strategy to transform the agriculture sector from a small holding to commercial and viable business .This is one of the 13 points of the agriculture transformation agenda that was introduce to cabinet retreat by the president during a cabinet meeting.This was revealed by the minister of Agriculture animal Industry and Fisheries, during a ministerial meeting on Agriculture transformation alongside the Africa Green Revolution forum meeting in Nairobi,organised by the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA).Through enterprise selection, farmers will be assisted to choose enterprises that suit the available piece of land with the help of officials from the ministry."Commercial farming doesn't necessarily mean having a big size of land. It means using what you have profitably and choosing the right enterprise and this is what we are encouraging our farmers to do," said Ssempija. This has already been realized in Vietnam where farm enterprises like fishing, piggery, bee farming, vegetable growing among others have been embraced by farmers with small pieces of land and many are now exporting, added Ssempija.Read more ▪ GCPMOA: Climate change to bring down maize production Maize production in the country is expected to drop by 19 per cent if government does not tame the effects of climate change, a senior government official has said.Speaking at the launch of the Belgian government-funded projects aimed at averting effects of climate change in Uganda, Mr Okasai Opolot, the commissioner for crop production ministry of Agriculture, said patterns such as El-Nino, where some months will experience heavy rain and long dry spells, resulting into high temperatures, will be responsible for the decline.The country produces slightly more than 30 million tonnes of maize annually and the reduction is expected to see a 5.7m tonne reduction.“You cannot imagine what El-Nino rain have caused. We expected them but they delayed and when they came, lowland areas have been flooded and maize will rot because it will be harvested under heavy rain,” Mr Opolot said. Read more ▪  MAAIF: Taxes on agricultural inputs push up cost of fertilisers The Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries has said the cost of fertiliser in Uganda is 10 times higher than international prices, something that is reducing the use of fertilisers locally. Government imposed taxes on agricultural inputs as it tries to expand the country’s tax base. The commissioner for crop protection in the Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries, Mr Komayombi Bulegeya said the high cost of fertilisers in the local market is associated to the tax slapped on the input directly and indirectly. The Withholding tax of 6 per cent and 18 per cent VAT, he said, all combined together contribute to high fertiliser prices in Ugandan market. Speaking during a workshop in Kampala, Mr Komayombi said: “The cost of transporting fertiliser from Mombasa to Kampala is $140 (Shs419,300) per tonne by road compared to $50 (Shs149,750) per tonne when transporting it by railway.Read more ▪ MAAIF: : Korea to help Uganda increase rice production The Korean government has expressed interest in supporting the government of Uganda in the production of upland rice in the districts of Pallisa and Kibuku, along R.Mpologoma.This was revealed by the president of the Korean Rural Community Corporation, Lee, Sang-Mu during a meeting with officials from the ministry of Agriculture and Vice presidents' office at the Kampala Serena Hotel.Apart from rice production, Sang-Mu is looking at developing appropriate ICT tools through which farmers can access the information needed for their particular crops and the promotion of the use of solar power.The team from ministry of agriculture was led by the minister of state for Agriculture, Zerubaberi Nyiira. According to Nyiira, the visit was aimed at achieving two aspects. One of them was to visit the proposed Irrigation Scheme in Pallisa and Kibuku districts, along R.Mpologoma and the other was to explore new areas of cooperation.Read more ▪ MAAIF: Agric ministry needs sh100bn for extension workers The ministry of agriculture is seeking for about sh100bn to cater for salaries and operation costs for the 3,300 extension workers that they intend to recruit next month to implement the newly adopted single spine extension system. Cabinet approved the adoption of a single spine agricultural system to replace the National Agricultural Advisory System (NAADS) programme, hitherto marred in efficacy complications. The director of crop resources, Okaasai Opolot, said the ministry requires about sh43bn to cater for salaries and an additional sh60bn for operational costs to implement the programme. “We have engaged the ministry of finance and they are willing to give us the resources to fill the gaps which were created when the NAADS programme was disbanded in the districts,” said Opolot. “We need to recruit at least 3,300 additional graduate extension workers. So that we have at least two extension workers at the district and sub-county level,” he added.Read more ▪ MAAIF: Livestock ban hurts leather processors Business for local leather processors has been slow following a disease outbreak that spurred a livestock ban in major livestock producing areas. Information from the Ministry of Agriculture indicates that the foot and mouth disease outbreak started in the western region, rapidly spreading to nearly 28 districts in the cattle corridor, prompting a nation-wide quarantine and an eventual restriction of livestock trade in the affected areas.According to Emmanuel Mwebe, the coordinator of the Uganda leather and Allied Industries Association, sector players started feeling the pinch, resulting from scarcity of the hides and skins on the local market. Read more ▪ MAAIF: Formulate policies that reflect the needs of society An official from the Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries has called on policy makers to make policies based on research in particular areas so as to help the intended beneficiaries.“In order to make a good policy we should be informed so that we can know the challenges and experiences so to make it better,” said Beatrice Byarugaba, the commissioner crop production and marketing in the Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries.She was officiating at the meeting organized by IITA on policy formulation that will promote the intensification of farming in Uganda at the Kampala Sheraton Hotel in Kampala. This is being promoted through the Policy Action for Sustainable Intensification of Ugandan Cropping systems (PASIC) project under IITA. Byaruhanga said that the agriculture land is not expanding and it is further losing soil fertility due to over cultivation and a growing population. Read more ▪ MOAAIF: Mining to increase Agriculture production Agriculture production in Uganda is set to increase with the establishment of mining and oil extraction industries despite concerns from the public that the discovery of oil in Uganda will affect the sector negatively.According to the minister of agriculture animal industry and fisheries, Tress Buchanayandi, Uganda’s agriculture sector is in need of supportive ingredients like fertilizers for their gardens but are too expensive for farmers , an issue that is failing agriculture production.“The discovery of oil and other minerals in Uganda will make it easy to manufacture nitrogenous fertilizers, which help in speeding up the growth of the plant to the advantage of the farmer,” said the Buchanayandi. Other discoveries like vermiculite in Bulambuli district, on the slopes of Mt.Elgon is another advantage because this enhances soil fertility, according to the minister. Read more ▪ The State Minister for Animal Industry, Maj Bright Rwamirama, has said the Ministry of Finance has embarked on mechanisms through which farmers can start benefiting from a Shs500 billion credit facility to improve farm production.While addressing the National Farmers Council at their annual assembly last week, Maj Rwamirama, said his ministry is disappointed with the low absorption of the Shs500 billion facility which Bank of Uganda created for 15 commercial banks to disburse to farmers so as to mechanise their farms.“Government has been putting aside Shs60 billion for the last four years to 15 commercial banks so that farmers can buy tractors, milk pumps, post-harvest handling equipment and ox-ploughs for farm power but unfortunately the absorption rate has been only 40 per cent, because farmers cannot write bankable projects,” he said.Read more ▪ MOA:‘VAT on inputs will chase farmers out of business’ The ministry of agriculture has warned that re-instating the 18% Value Added Tax (VAT) on agricultural inputs and cereals will reduce farmers’ profits and chase many out of production. Prof. Zerubabel Nyiira, the state minister for agriculture, said this will hamper efforts to mechanise and commercialise farming to boost food security.The 2014/2015 budget reinstated VAT on the supply of poultry and livestock feeds, agricultural and machinery like tractors, as well as specialised vehicles and plants.Other inputs on which VAT was imposed include seeds, fertilisers, pesticides and hand hoes. The supply of cereals grown, milled or produced in the country, which has always been VAT-free, will also start attracting the tax.Consequently, the price for a brand new tractor is to increase by more than sh10m, from sh55m and sh80m currently, to sh65m-sh94m. A hand hoe which has been costing a farmer sh7000 will now go for about sh8500.Yet, Nyiira explained that Uganda’s agricultural sector is made up of mainly smallholder farmers who cannot set prices for their products and as such cannot wash out VAT like other businesses. Read more ▪ MAAF: Government moves to curb fake agro-inputs Government has set up a department in the agriculture ministry as one of the measures to counter the rampant sale of fake seeds and agro-inputs in the market.Joseph Bazaale, the commissioner for crop protection in the ministry of agriculture said that the new department of crop inspection and certification will assist in fighting agro-input counterfeits.Government is also developing and will soon launch a system to label and tag certified seed bags with a tamper-proof seals as another measure to fight counterfeit seeds on the market.Bazaale said counterfeit seeds and agro-inputs remain a challenge on the local Ugandan market, some of which are imported from neighbouring countries of Kenya, and Tanzania.Read more ▪ The Government through the ministry of Agriculture, Animal industry and Fisheries has earmarked $147m to boost the production of Vegetable oil seeds like simsim, sunflower, soy beans and groundnuts in the country. This development was recently disclosed by the oil seeds coordinator in the agriculture ministry Dr. John Bananuka while addressing participants who attended a two-day workshop at Masaba House in Mbale town. The participants from over 20 districts in the eastern region took part. They included district production officers, oil millers, traders, farmers, input dealers, distributors and processors. Bananuka said that it is a five year project that is funded by the Government, International Fund for Agricultural products and the private sector. He added that it is aimed at reducing on the importation of edible oil and soap products. “Sixty to seventy percent of the edible oil and soap needs in Uganda are met by imports from Kenya, Malaysia and other countries. Our plan is to reduce on importation of these products by between 30-40% by 2018,” Bananuka said. Read more ▪ MAAIF: Uganda’s fish exports drop in 2013 There are increasing worries among fisheries’ stakeholders about the future of Uganda’s fish industry, following statistics showing exports went down.According to the figures from the Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and fisheries, Uganda exported 18,558.07 tonnes of fish worth $113,933.23 (about Shs273 million), lower than 20,562 tonnes worth $115,508.71 (about Shs277 million) exported. The figures were, however, slightly higher than 17,332 tonnes worth $91447 (about Shs219 million) Uganda exported.“The decline has been attributed to poor fishing methods and poor land practices along the lake shores,” according to Mr Henry Nabongo, a senior Fisheries inspector and Deputy Spokesperson of the Fisheries department, Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries.Read more ▪   MOA: Gov’t Moves to Boost Horticulture Sector The Minister of Agriculture, Tress Bucyanayandi, has promised to do whatever is takes to ensure that Horticulture farming is improved in Uganda. While presiding over the grand opening of the 2nd East Africa Flowers, Fruits and Vegetables Expo held at UMA grounds Lugogo, the minister appreciated the rate at which horticulture is developing in the country.The Minister of Agriculture, Tress Bucyanayandi received a token of appreciation from Mairye Estates exhibitorsas the chief organiser Job Mwesigwa (R). The Expo was held at UMA grounds LugogoWhile presiding over the grand opening of the 2nd East Africa Flowers, Fruits and Vegetables Expo held at UMA grounds Lugogo, the minister appreciated the rate at which horticulture is developing in the country. Read more ▪ MAAIF:Dairy revenues surge to Shs51b Earnings from dairy exports have now reached Shs50 billion, a feat the government largely attributes to its liberalisation policies.According to the Minister of agriculture in charge of animal industry, Mr Bright Rwamirama, the spirit in the dairy sector is running high, signifying the beginning of more fortunes to be harvested in the lucrative sector.“Our dairy export is now in the range of $20 billion (about Shs51 billion) from $13 million (about Shs33 billion) last year, and we are looking to surpass that figure around this time,” Mr Rwamirama told the Daily Monitor in an interview.The earnings were standing at Shs30 billion up from nearly Shs9 billion the year before.The surge in export earnings according to industry players and sector analysts is due to the expanded markets in the gulf (Middle East) countries, and the extended regional markets which now include the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) member states.Read more ▪ Government targets Shs248b in fish exports Government has started working on measures that will see the country’s fish exports greatly increase to fetch $1billion (about Shs248 billion).State Minister for Agriculture Zirubaberi Nyira Mijumbi said Uganda wants to contribute to increased social and economic development in the East and Central African region through fish trade and fisheries development.“We want to tackle the whole value chain from impounding illegal fishing gear, post-harvest handling, border inspection to stop trade of immature fish across the region, among other interventions,” Prof Zirubaberi said last week after opening the 2nd trade event organised by the Indian Ocean Commission in conjunction with European Union and United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation. Read more ▪ Government targets Shs248b in fish exports Government has started working on measures that will see the country’s fish exports greatly increase to fetch $1billion (about Shs248 billion).State Minister for Agriculture Zirubaberi Nyira Mijumbi said Uganda wants to contribute to increased social and economic development in the East and Central African region through fish trade and fisheries development.“We want to tackle the whole value chain from impounding illegal fishing gear, post-harvest handling, border inspection to stop trade of immature fish across the region, among other interventions,” Prof Zirubaberi said after opening the 2nd trade event organised by the Indian Ocean Commission in conjunction with European Union and United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation. Read more ▪ MAAIF: Livestock quarantine restrictions lifted in Kibaale The ministry of agriculture, animal industry and fisheries has lifted the quarantine that was imposed on Kibaale district following the outbreak of contagious Bovine pleuropneumonia-CBPP disease.“Following the complete disappearance of contagious Bovine pleuropneumonia-CBPP in the sub counties of Ndaiga, Mpeefu, and Kyaterekera in Buyaga west Kibaale district, quarantine restrictions that had been imposed has been lifted with immediate effect”, Dr. C.S. Rutebarika commissioner for livestock health and entomology announced. Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP - also known as lung plague), is a contagious bacterial disease that afflicts the lungs of cattle, buffalo, zebu, and yaks. Read more ▪ MAAIF: Coffee policy to improve fortunes Coffee farmers in Uganda should expect to up their productivity and better their incomes with increased access to reliable inputs, improved technologies, extension services and more participation in post farm processes with the launch of the national coffee policy. The policy was launched at the Coffee Research Institute at Kituza in Mukono district. The launch comes after Cabinet’s approval of the policy in August that aims to boost coffee production and push Uganda back to the helm of coffee production on the African continent.Speaking at a media briefing ahead of the launch, Prof. Zerubabel Mujumbi, the agriculture state minister, said the policy will strengthen the coffee research system so that it is responsive to industry requirements and demands. Read more ▪  The policy was launched at the Coffee Research Institute (COIR) at Kituza in Mukono district. The launch comes after Cabinet’s approval of the policy in August that aims to boost coffee production and push Uganda back to the helm of coffee production on the African continent. Speaking at a media briefing ahead of the launch, Prof. Zerubabel Mujumbi, the agriculture state minister, said the policy will strengthen the coffee research system so that it is responsive to industry requirements and demands. “The policy aims at supporting and strengthening coffee farmer organisations to participate effectively in all the stages of the coffee value chain,” he said. ▪ MAAIF: Coffee policy to improve fortunes Coffee farmers in Uganda should expect to up their productivity and better their incomes with increased access to reliable inputs, improved technologies, extension services and more participation in post farm processes with the launch of the national coffee policy. Speaking at a media briefing ahead of the launch, Prof. Zerubabel Mujumbi, the agriculture state minister, said the policy will strengthen the coffee research system so that it is responsive to industry requirements and demands. Read more |