Uganda begins debate on future of agriculture

A lively debate on the future of Uganda’s agriculture sector has kicked off in Uganda with a larger section of the stakeholders at the first forum calling for the overhaul of the policy framework to pave way for improved yields and income.

Spearheaded by the Economic Policy Research Centre, a local think tank, the first debate attracted about 200 participants who attended the Agriculture and Food Security Forum on the theme, “Unlocking the export potential of Uganda’s agriculture sector,” held on June 6, 2013 at Hotel Africana in Kampala, Uganda.

Uganda, which largely depends on agriculture with official statistics indicating that about 60 per cent of exports are agriculture-based, is in dilemma due to policy failure underpinned by disharmony and clash of mandates between implementing bodies.

The forum provided a platform for key government officials, relevant donor partners, actors along the value chain, the private sector and farmer organizations to dialogue on means to attain food and nutrition security in Uganda.

“Our focus is on issues on broader strategic choices that government needs to make transformation of agriculture a reality. These strategic choices should lead to better economic effects at the same time pose fewer political and institutional risks,” said Ms Sarah Ssewanyana, the Executive Director of EPRC.

Food production in Uganda demands a paradigm shift in the light of rapid population growth, climate change and shrinking acreage of arable land.

At the forum, the debate mainly focused on why Uganda’s agricultural export potential was not fully realized.

“Is it an issue of incentive structure, weak capacities to respond to an enabling policy environment, policy failure of appropriate export development strategy for Agriculture?” Ssewanyana wondered.

Ssewanyana argued that although government was pushing for industrialization, there was continued dependence of agro-based industries on imported commodities as source of raw materials. She said government interventions also continue to be applied indiscriminately.

Uganda’s Minister for Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries, Hon Tress Bucyanayandi in his opening speech at the forum said agriculture would be instrumental in enabling the country attain vision 2040.

“This forum is very important at such a time when the government is envisioning transforming the country from a low income to a middle income country by 2040. Agriculture is the cornerstone of economic development in Uganda,” he said.

Uganda’s export statistics reveal that there is some degree of export diversification in the agriculture sector. The non-traditional agricultural related exports are growing but progress has remained uneven and unsustainable over the years.

However, the Minister said government still lacked sufficient resources to promote agricultural production and food security in the country. “We must accept that we do have some challenges including resource constraint,” he said.

The forum was organized against the backdrop of Uganda's continued widening trade gap between exports and imports. 

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