The East Africa Agribusiness Magazine (Issue 6-Ug)

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Rwanda: Private Sector to lead agricultural transformation ...Pg 10

Africa can feed itself

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Godrick Dambyo Jennifer Nalubega Patrick Matsiko wa Mucoori Jesse Hamala Kelvin Odoobo James Hyabene Peter Mugeni E.A Agribusiness/Agencies Joanne Kukunda Betty Ingabire Cliff Tigawa Luke Nathan Kasolo

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Food security remains one of Africa’s biggest challenges yet the continent has the biggest arable land on earth. Why? This situation is influenced by a number of factors that include war and civil strife, poor human resource base, inadequate education, little or no use of agricultural technology and lack of value addition and access to markets. These factors contribute to insufficient national food availability and access to food resulting in cyclic poverty. While the rest of the world has made significant progress towards poverty alleviation, Africa, especially the Sub-Saharan region, continues to lag behind with the situation threatening to get worse as population growth outstrips growth in food production.

Failure to tame nature and environment to human advantage has left Africa’s agriculture to the mercy of the vagaries of nature such as drought, heavy rainfall and floods.

It is quite ironical that Africa which has the world’s largest arable land is the world’s most hungry continent. By 2010, land under agricultural production in Sub-Saharan Africa was 10 million square kilometres yet the continent remained food insecure. Europe had six million square kilometres under agriculture but was food secure and the world’s biggest food exporter. In the last 40 years, per capita world food production has increased by 17% but in Africa it has instead declined by 10 percent.

Sub-Saharan Africa accounts spends $50 billion on food imports every year.

Ironical also is that over 70% of the people without enough food in SubSaharan Africa live in rural areas where smallholder farmers, who constitute about 80% of the population, produce over 90% of the countries’ food.

This raises a critical question; why has Africa failed to translate its agricultural potential into actual food security and wealth?

We cannot significantly and sustainably reduce food insecurity without transforming agriculture and the living conditions in rural farming communities.

During the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme workshop in Kampala last month, it was emphasized that interventions must be developed to make agriculture a profitable business to smallholder farmers in order to attract increased investment and youth engagement.

It was also pointed out that farmers must be supported to have access to quality seeds and varieties, affordable credit, agricultural technology, inputs and training in modern agronomic practices if Africa is to realize the dream of agricultural transformation, poverty alleviation and wealth creation.

According to Ministry of Agriculture information, Uganda has potential to feed 50 million people without using fertilizers and 200 million using fertilizers.

Food security is one of the top MDGs but unless radical interventions are made in agriculture, Africa is unlikely to meet the target of halving the number of people who suffer hungry and poverty by 2015.

The way forward lies in changing the smallholder farmer from subsistencebased to market-oriented production, use of a hand hoe and ox-plough to modern technology; integration of women and youth into farming, creating access to markets, value addition and increased productivity.

However, there are other related factors which affect food security that must be squarely addressed. Africa’s high fertility rate of 5 children per woman must be tamed down to or close to the global average of 2 children per woman. Population growth will greatly increase the amount of food needed to adequately feed sub-Saharan Africa’s people. Reproductive health and family planning services must be improved to enable people have smaller families.

With Africa’s 800 million people projected to hit 1.2 billion by 2050, the continent must double its food production. How much additional food is needed to feed Africa and the world in 2050 depends greatly on future fertility.

Issue 06, May - June 2013

http://www.ea-agribusiness.co.ug

10 | Public-Private Partnership

Rwanda seeks Private Sector to lead agricultural transformation 13 | Value Addition

Value addition is Africa’s next big opportunity

18 | Mechanisation

Think of post-harvest storage before you plant

Farmers need affordable loans to transform agriculture 27 | Crop Husbandry

21 | Interview

Cooperatives best way to ensure economic growthEMRC Vice President

Fertilizers will help you double your crop yields

28 | Creating a rice revolution with the Indian model 27 | Do-It-Yourself How to make your own fertilizers

Farm Guide Start-up guide to

GROWING TOMAT OES to grow income PLUS : Know the health benefits of tomatoes

38 | Aquaculture

Fish farming; A poverty eradication strategy for Africa

44 | COMMENTARY

Why think tanks are key to Uganda’s development

Date

Event

Venue

5th -7th June

International Flower Trade Expo (IFTEX)

Oshwal Centre, Nairobi, Kenya

12th -13th June

Agriculture market place event 2013 for Northern Uganda Region Theme: Linking farmers to wider agribusiness Opportunities.

Contact: +256 752 210 738 | Email: lasiimwe.agrihub@gmail.com

Lira Municipality, Mayor’s Gardens

28th -29th June

EAGC Agribusiness Expo 2003 Theme: Future of Agribusiness; Quality-the key to competiveness and commercialisation Contact: 0312 112 854/0782 857 058 | Email: bbalungi@eagc.org

Masindi Demonstartion Centre, Kihonda Uganda

30 th June - 4th July

9th Triennial Africa Potato Association Conference

Nairobi, Kenya

8th-14th July

Source of the Nile National Agricultural & Trade Show Theme: Promoting Agro-Technologies to Enhance Food Security and Competitiveness in the Regional Markets

Jinja Show Ground

28th - 30th August

2nd International Africa tea conventio Theme: African Tea, Refreshing the World; Driving the African Economy

Serena Hotel, Kigali, Rwanda

9th -13th Sept.

1st international symposium on Ornamentals in Africa (ISHS)

Morendat Conference Centre, Naivasha

!

E C I T O N Honey week event 2013 The Uganda National Honey Week followed a decision by apiculture Multi-Stakeholders Platform (MSP) in 2008 and primary value chain actors’ demand to showcase their hive products and raise public awareness on importance apiculture. TUNADO, mandated by members and stakeholders, was charged with organizing annual Uganda National Honey Week together with MAAIF. This year’s theme is; “Beekeeping a means for youth and women employment.”

The main objective is to raise awareness on apiculture’s potential to create employment for youth and women.

The Honey Week will: • Advocate improved beekeeping training

and skills development particularly to unemployed youth and women • Provide platform for business to business networking • Show case and receive feedback on the Ugandan hive products and by-products The activities will include satellite exhibitions at selected supermarkets, innovative learning platforms, radio talk shows, school visits, Honey Week rally, donations and the main exhibition event.

Date: 26th- 31st Aug 2013

Come taste Ugandan honey and get to know the facts about honey, interact with experts who can guide you on how to start the apiculture business.

Exhibition stalls price: 1m* 2m = UGX 250,000 1m* 4m = UGX 350,000

Venue: Forest Mall Lugogo

Contact details: info@tunadobees.org or 0414258070

News

East Africa

Kenya

Rains wreck havoc across East Africa

Heavy rains, which otherwise should be a blessing to farmers, have caused loss of life and damage of property across the East African region. During March and April, rains intensified causing human deaths, property destruction and displacement of people in various parts of the region. In Kenya, the critical Nairobi–Nakuru highway almost turned impassable with critical sections of the road suffering extensive damage. In the Rwandan capital Kigali heavy rains washed away a Toyota saloon car over a bridge near Nyabugogo taxi park.

The above-normal rains have ravaged many areas in Tanzania; Rwanda, Burundi, the Lake Victoria Basin; Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia.

South Sudan

Investment opportunities in agriculture South Sudan’s agricultural sector presents a strong opportunity not only as a driver of the country’s food security but also of its overall economic development, says Agriculture Minister Dr Betty Achan Ogwaro.

Dr Ogwaro visited IFPRI to present a “new path forward” for agriculture and food security in her country. She said she was laying out South Sudan’s first steps toward establishing an economically viable and sustainable agricultural system.

She said more than 95% of the country’s land area is suitable for agriculture and 50% is classified as “prime agricultural land” yet only 4% of this land is under cultivation, most of it rain-fed. With many rivers and tributaries, coupled with high annual rainfall (500-2000 mm), South Sudan’s potential for growing more food to feed its population is quite high.

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Flower exporters target new markets Kenya’s lucrative flower industry has begun looking into emerging markets for their products beyond the traditional markets of Europe and North America. Kenya has entered Russia, South Korea and Japan markets. Kenya’s flower sector earned KSh44.5 billion in 2011 and KSh42.8 billion in 2012. Flower exporters can exploit the new direct Kenya Airway flights to East Asia and the lucrative US$1 billion Russian market. Jane Ngige, Chief Executive of the Kenya Flower Council, said they anticipate 5% annual demand growth for the next 5 years. “Our share of the global flower industry is 33 per cent.”

The Source of the Nile National Agricultural and Trade show 2013 A special publication

TO ADVERTISE, CALL: 0776963231, 0772780301, 0772619588, 0414223475

News

Read EAST AFRICA=AGRIBUSINESS online http://www.ea-agribusiness.co.ug Uganda

Africa: The world’s most arable and hungry continent Uganda has agricultural potential to feed 50 million people without using fertilizers and 200 million with application of fertilizers or productivity enhancing inputs.

This was revealed during the Uganda National Non-State Actors Dialogue, May 16-17, at Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala. The dialogue was hosted by Pan African Agribusiness and Agro-industry Consortium (PanAAC) with support from USAID, actionaid, Africa Lead and Feed Future, among others. It was a follow up of the 2011 Non-State Actors (NSA) dialogue on what needs to be done for agricultural transformation to achieve food and nutrition security in Africa under the framework of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP).

During the various presentations, it transpired that despite Africa having the highest agricultural potential to feed herself and the world, it remains the most food insecure due to poor agronomic practices and technology.

For example by 2011 prevalence of anaemia among pre-school children in Uganda was 50.4 percent, women of 15-49 years 24.2% while among pregnant

women it was 64 percent.

The key reason for food and nutrition security in Uganda and Africa generally, was attributed to lack of use of modern technology, partnerships, quality seeds, access to market, affordable finance, value addition, information and agribusiness development along the diverse value chains.

The NSA stakeholders called for strategies to change the agricultural setting

from production for food to production for the market that would attract the youth into farming and also industrialise the sector.

The participants committed to continue NSAs’ engagement with government and policy makers to create an enabling environment for transformation of agriculture as envisioned under CAADP. (By Patrick Matsiko wa Mucoori)

Using such poor agricultural technology cannot help Africa achieve food security.

Rwanda

Kigali to host Africa Agribusiness Forum This year’s Africa Agribusiness Forum which brings together African countries to share agricultural best practices and investment opportunities will be hosted in Rwanda’s capital Kigali in October. The Forum, the largest pan-African agribusiness meeting held in Africa annually, aims at strengthening the Agri-Food sector on Agnes Kalibata the continent by encouraging partnerships, exchange of best practices and

attracting investments.

The forum will attract participants from about 40 African countries and delegates from other continents.

Rwanda’s Minister of Agriculture Dr Agnes Kalibata said the forum will be an opportunity for Rwanda to showcase its achievements in agribusiness, poverty reduction and

ensuring food security as well as help Rwanda link investment opportunities to different investors at the forum.

“It is really about turning eyes to Rwanda. It is about Rwanda with growth rates of about 7% annually, it is about Rwanda with zero tolerance to corruption,” says Idit Miller, Vice President of European Marketing Research Centers, the organizers of the forum.

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5

Agro-financing

Farmers need affordable loans to transform agriculture

By Prossy N. Lyaka

A

griculture is one of the main drivers of Uganda’s economy and raising its productivity through financing is one of the priorities the government has set. The economy today relies heavily on agriculture which employs 80% of the population.

It’s against this background that government in partnership with development partners introduced agricultural loans through the Central Bank, where commercial banks would access the money and lend it out to farmers.

Some of the known financial institutions that are lending to agriculture and agribusinesses are Pride Microfinance, Centenary Rural Development Bank, Stan-

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bic Bank and Ugafode Microfinance.

Stanbic Bank which has over 70% branches countrywide started agricultural lending in 2010. The bank created a department specifically to manage the agricultural financing.

Richard Wangwe, the bank’s Head of Agricultural Financing, said they started giving out loans of two categories: Smallholder Production Loans and the Agricultural Credit Fund administered under the Bank of Uganda.

The smallholder loans were issued in partnership with Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and Kilimo Trust. Stanbic Bank contributed $25m.

Under this arrangement, AGRA and Kilimo provided guarantees and technical

assistance because agriculture was considered a risky venture.

“We did not have the experience at that time as far as smallholder financing was concerned and we had some challenges. After acquiring the experience, identified markets and niches where we fit well, we decided to change our direction of agriculture financing,” said Wangwe. “Right now, we have moved away from direct financing to indirect financing of smallholder farmers.”

Under indirect financing, Stanbic Bank gives loans to an off taker or the main buyer of the agricultural produce who in return lends to the producer because they have the capacity and knowledge of the smallholder farmers.

Agro-financing

Past experience According to Wangwe, who formerly worked with Uganda Commercial Bank (which was taken over by Stanbic Bank), financing individual farmers leads to decline in prices because when they acquire the loans they tend to produce the same crops which creates overproduction and leads to decline in crop prices. When prices decline

it becomes hard for farmers to pay back the loans. That’s why the bank decided to finance farmers indirectly through the principal buyer of their produce.

In 1989, Uganda Commercial Bank (UCB) introduced a scheme to give loans to individual farmers. As a result there was excessive production of mainly maize and prices dropped from Shs150 to Shs10 per kilo.

Requirements for one to get an agric loan A company or commercial farmer seeking to acquire a loan from a bank must have the experience in the enterprise they intend to engage in.

This is to minimize cases of mismanagement of the loan facility which on many occasions has far reaching consequences. The borrowers must have at least 50% of the needed funding, then the bank also offers 50 percent.

This is aimed at creating a sense of ownership on the part of a farmer so as to handle the project committedly for both parties to benefit.

Those in production like poultry, beef and milk must have a ready market because their products are highly perishable. Lack of a market means losses and it would be difficult to realize profit to pay back the loan.

For crop production the bank prefers farmers who are engaged in commercial/large scale farming. For example the bank is financing a tea company in Fort Portal which works with smallholder farmers as outgrowers. It’s the company that pays the smallholder farmers for their tea.

The party interested in accessing this loan, must have the capacity in terms of land of not less than 10 hectares; for poultry he needs to have not less than 5000 birds and for dairy cattle, he should have between 100 and 1000 animals. But there are

variations.

“If one is engaged in high value crops like vegetables, they don’t need 10 hectares of land. For dairy where one is keeping pure exotic breeds, 50 head of cattle are do, for cross breeds between 100 and 150 among others,” Wangwe explains.

They must also have experienced labour this applies to mainly crops with short maturity periods. Such that a farmer doesn’t lose out during the harvest.

Who qualifies for this financing?

All people or companies involved in the entire value chain of agricultural production qualify for the funding.

These may be off-takers, farmers, processors, suppliers or marketers among others. They must be engaged in commercial production whether in animal rearing or crop growing like poultry, dairy and beef, tea, tobacco, cotton, coffee and maize.

The bank also finances big traders who do bulking (trading in bulk) and store the produce which they later sell to customers. Then there are the big off-takers who supply the processers or exporters.

“Because of the huge volumes of produce that a trader has to buy, they may not have sufficient security to get loans and cover the storage facilities.

For example a tonne of maize costs Shs800,000. If the off-taker has an order of 1000 tonnes, in most cases we encourage them to look for good warehouses where the crops act as the security through a system called Warehouse Receipt Discounting,” Wangwe added.

Under the Warehouse Receipt Discounting system, the grain is received in the warehouse under collateral man-

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Agro-financing

All commercial farmers qualify for the funding. The farmer should be between 18-65 years of age. They must have the experience in the project they are undertaking,

agement. The collateral manager issues a warehouse receipt. The borrower then takes the receipt to the financial institution which will offer him a loan to bulk as much as possible during the harvest time and sell later at an opportune time.

Stanbic started giving out agricultural loans in 2010 with Shs5 billion. Today the lending to agriculture accounts for 33% of the bank’s total lending portfolio. Since 2010 Stanbic Bank has given out loans of about Shs100 billion and the amount is projected to increase in the coming years.

Hope for small holder farmers Some financial institutions like Pride Microfinance have come up to support the smallholder farmer in accessing credit. Pride Microfinance targets the primary producer who is the farmer.

John Ssali, the manager for Agriculture Credit at Pride Microfinance, explained that they decided to start agricultural lending after realizing that there was a unique category of farmers who needed such credit.

Ssali said they are looking at primary producers because their needs and requirements are unique and need special redress because they don’t realize cash on a regular basis.

However Prime Microfinance also finances other players along the value chain under the mainstream individual lending.

Requirements to access the loan All commercial farmers qualify for the funding. The farmer should be between 18-65 years of age. They must have the experience in the project they are undertaking, “We want to eliminate chances of one getting a loan to engage in a new venture which he or she has no knowledge or information about and yet they will have to pay back,” Ssali explained. The borrowers should be operating within a radius of 70km from the bank’s 30 lending branches. They must be able to secure the loans using any worthwhile asset they own.

“We are looking at a broad asset like household items, farm stock in case of livestock and poultry, land titles, motor vehicles, agricultural machines or any asset of incentive value,” said Ssali.

Paying back the loan?

The repayment procedure for each loan is based on the enterprise that the client is undertaking.

“If you are going to realize cash flows after four months, we give you four months grace period. If it is monthly, then we tag the payments on a monthly basis,” Ssali said.

Since 2011 when Pride Microfinance piloted the agricultural loan facility in Lira and Hoima districts and later rolled it out in all branches across the country, about Shs2 billion has been leant out to about 820 clients.

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Agro-financing

May - June 2013

9

Public-Private Partnership

Rwanda seeks Private Sector to lead agricultural transformation

By Kelvin Odoobo

Rwanda’s Vision 2020 aspires to transform the country into a middle income economy with a per capita income of about US$ 900 (now revised to US$ 1,240) per year. Rwanda seeks to realize this dream through transforming her subsistence agriculture-based to a knowledge-based economy. This would bring about high levels of savings and private investment, which would in turn reduce the country’s dependence on external aid.

B

y this assertion the framers of the Vision 2020 recognised the iconic role of the agriculture sector in attaining the middle income status for a country where over 80% depend on subsistence agriculture directly for food and income. The middle income status would help redirect the majority of Rwanda’s labour force to other sectors like industry/manufacturing and services.

In line with this, the second of the six pillars of the Vision 2020 emphasizes transformation of agriculture into a productive, high value, market oriented sector, with forward linkages to other sectors. The third pillar reiterates the development of an efficient private sector spearheaded by competitiveness and entrepreneurship. Therefore, the transformation of agriculture from a subsistence to commercial or large scale and industrialised sector goes hand in hand with the development, by the private sector, of Rwanda’s investment potential in agribusiness.

John Rwangombwa, now the Bank of Rwanda Governor, told the National Retreat at Gako last year when he was still

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Minister of Finance, that achieving new targets would require 8% annual national economic growth, with agriculture growing at over 8.5 per cent.

“We plan to raise productivity in the agriculture sector because this is where the majority of Rwandans make a living.

We have to change mindsets and improve the way Rwandans farm and harvest, find markets as well as improve infrastructure so that their produce can reach the markets,” he said at the retreat.

Therefore while the agenda for agricultural transformation is a well thought-out and meticulously implemented initiative by the Government of Rwanda (GoR), it depends essentially on the private sector utilizing the available incentives and taking the lead in the country’s agricultural transformation drive. The private sector will own the transformation process, deliver a sustainable, demand driven and stable agricultural sector that will turn opportunities into reality, with the government providing a strong regulatory role.

The Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources Dr Agnes Kalibata recently decried the weak or minimal involvement of the private sector in agriculture and

agribusiness. “It is imperative for them (private sector) to aggressively exploit this industry because it is profitable; it will also help promote food security in the country,” she said.

Rwanda’s population is expected to double to about 16 million people by 2020 which implies that there will be increasing market and demand for food that need to be matched with adequate supply.

As envisioned in the Vision 2020, Rwanda will create sustainable service and manufacturing sectors which will absorb the labour, that was traditionally invested in subsistence farming, and redirect it into other sectors. However, this does not mean that agricultural development cannot go hand in hand with industrial devel-

Public-Private Partnership a high value/high productivity sector, it will not, on its own, become a sufficient engine of growth. There has to be an exit strategy that shifts the population from reliance on agriculture to relying on secondary and tertiary sectors.

However the critical issue is not simply one of an agricultural transformation strategy, but rather, identifying Rwanda’s comparative advantage and taking maximum benefit from it.

For instance Rwanda plenty supply of cheap labour, a large multi-lingual population, a strategic location as the gateway between East and Central Africa as well as its small size, making it easy for infrastructure development. The industries established will need to produce the most commonly consumed products, for which there is a ready market at home but could also supplement the country’s exports.

order from one client and other market orders of $80 million over the next five years, initially including passion fruit, pyrethrum and bamboo plants.

SeedCo Limited, another new investor making a debut in Rwanda, is Africa’s largest seed house having developed and marketed certified crop seeds for about 75 years, with about 70,000 metric tonnes in circulation.

Their specialties are hybrid maize and cotton seeds, wheat, soy beans, barley, sorghum, and ground nuts. Produced from parent seeds under contract by established producer networks, SeedCo Limited continues to conduct research and tap into virgin markets.

Agro processing The GoR through the National Agricul-

Progress

opment. In most developed countries, a small farming population of about 2% is responsible for feeding the remaining 98 percent that in unengaged in agriculture.

These 2% are comprised of largely commercial, mechanized large scale farming.

Even though the urgency at this moment is to use agriculture to lift Rwandans, who are majority farmers, from poverty through improved agriculture, in the long term, it is in the best interest of the country to have larger and consolidated farms among fewer commercial farmers while the majority of the population- highly skilled—are allowed to take up well-paying jobs in critical areas of the public and private sectors.

According the Vision 2020, even if Rwanda’s agriculture is transformed into

The private sector participation in Rwanda’s agricultural sector is growing across different value chains and at different levels from primary production, input supply, technology, processing/value addition, agribusiness and marketing.

Private sector players taking advantage of GoR momentum have begun to make inroads in the sector. The Forestry and Agricultural Investment Management (FAIM) has established a state-of-the-art propagation nursery in Rwanda for tissue culture and mass plant production. It has already captured a $5 million purchase Stevia plant.

Pyrethrum.

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Public-Private Partnership

tural Export Development Board (NAEB) has highlighted the importance of value addition especially as the country’s main sources of foreign exchange. Rwanda’s coffee and tea have become popular worldwide and currently fetch higher export earnings because of the government’s deliberate efforts to exploit the country’s unique geographical and comparative advantages.

Companies like Azam, SteviaLife, Mt. Meru Soya, ICM Agribusiness among others have ventured into agro processing.

SteviaLife, a Canadian company, is now growing premium stevia leaf from whose dried leaves Stevia is extracted.

Stevia is an excellent natural alternative to sugar, has no calories and no side effects or health risks and is not broken down by heat. Stevia sweeteners do not induce glycemic response, making them ideal for diabetics and others on carbohydrate-controlled diets.

To address the issue of poor markets and fluctuating prices, Rwanda Grains and Cereals Corporation, a consortium of government and private sector entities, now provides constant markets for farmers produce across the country. Horizon Sopyrwa, one of Horizon Group of Companies, acquired SOPYRWA and revived the ailing pyrethrum industry making

Rwanda to gain a 15% share of global market. This earns the country over US$ 15 million per annum. The plant’s beautiful white flower is refined to produce an organic insecticide effective against a wide range of pests. Pyrethrum is largely produced in Kenya which supplies over 70% of the world’s stock while the balance comes from Tanzania, Australia and now Rwanda.

Pyrethrum is now a new source of reliable income in the districts of Musanze, Nyabihu, Rubavu and Burera in the Northern Province and covers about 3,200 hectares of land with over 30,000 farmers involved in the production of the crop.

Horizon Sopyrwa has also partnered with a UK pesticide manufacturing firm, Agropharm, to form Agropharm Africa to manufacture organic crop and animal drugs that have been previously imported from Europe, suitable for local insecticides and for export to eastern and western Africa countries.

Public-Private Engagement Rwanda’s Agriculture Sector Investment Plan 2009 -2012 aims at transforming agriculture into a modern, professionally-managed and market-oriented economic undertaking achieved through targeted investments

that create an environment conducive to increased production. The requires investing in infrastructure required for agricultural intensification, promotion of professionalism, agricultural technological innovations and public – private sector partnerships.

One of its three absolute priorities is promotion and support to private sector initiatives by supporting trade improving policies, value addition and support to public- private partnerships.

The GoR has identified strategic partners in many cases for public-private partnership initiatives such as large scale irrigation projects and mechanization.

However, such partnerships should continue to be encouraged especially in agricultural extension where the private sector can benefit from existing public extension education networks to promote proven technologies and modern practices. The public sector in turn will benefit simultaneously from increased knowledge transfer and training opportunities. Such engagements can also include the utilization of extension methods like farmer field schools, model demonstration plots where the government, the private sector and NGOs increase efficiency and improve coordination of implementation of sector policies as well as enforcement of regulatory mechanisms.

New Interests Fanisi Capital has become the latest entrant into Rwanda’s maize value chain after announcing a Sh255 million investment in ProDev Group Holdings (Rwanda) which owns Minimex, the largest manufacturer of branded maize meal in Rwanda for the brewing industry and bran used in the formulation of animal feed. This is a sign that the concerted effort by government through Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI) and Rwanda Development Board (RDB) to attract foreign direct inflows into the agriculture sector is working.

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Value Addition

Value addition is Africa’s next big opportunity

By Kelvin Odoobo

Many researchers and policy analysts agree on the potential of agribusiness in driving African economies out of poverty to middle income status. But disjointed approaches, uncoordinated efforts and lack of prioritisation mean that this potential has failed to translate into reality.

T

he lack of a united cross-national, cross-sectoral approach towards agriculture means that piecemeal interventions in several countries produce mixed results and make little impact or are hardly noticed.

For example the success story of Malawi’s Food Security with Farm Input Subsidy Programme started by the late President Bingu wa Mutharika is almost conveniently forgotten while the supposed collapse of Uganda’s National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) marks the death of another well intentioned but poorly executed government agricultural programme.

But a new World Bank Report, Growing Africa: Unlocking the Potential of Agribusiness, has laid it all bare.

Abundant Resources Africa has about half of the world’s uncultivated land and water. About 450 million hectares are cultivatable and not forested or protected or densely protected in Africa. According to the report, just eight

countries contain two-thirds of uncultivated land (Sudan, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Madagascar, Zambia, Angola, and Tanzania).

Meanwhile Europe and the Americas have far diminished land resources while Asia is fast running out of arable land. As a result, many western hedge funds, rich Asian and Middle East countries that are in deserts and have no more land but have money have decided to lease vast tracts of cheap African land to produce food exclusively for re-export back to feed the rising food demands in their home countries.

Meanwhile, Africa’s total economically exploitable irrigation potential is estimated to be at 39 million hectares— four times the current level. Although a number of basins are experiencing or approaching water scarcity, the problem generally is not absolute scarcity and lack of storage capacity.

Power of Agribusiness The World Bank report says agriculture production (20%) and agribusiness (24%)

contribute about 45% to the economies of sub-Saharan Africa. According to the World Development Report 2008, also by the World Bank, the role of agribusiness rises with increasing incomes. It found that the contribution of value addition to farming is 0.6% in agricultural-based countries (most of Africa), 2% in transforming countries (mostly Asia), 3.3% in urbanized countries (mostly Latin America) and 13% in the USA which represents developed countries. This clearly shows that agribusiness or value addition to farming increases as incomes increase. In fact commercialisation of farming to meet rising demand from urban consumers leads to higher use of inputs, services like machine repair, finance, retail, packaging and transportation. This may be one of the reasons why well intended government programmes like NAADS which basically avails money for new technologies fail, because they are not demand driven. They instead appear like government grants to people who then have to look for any opportunity to access the funds.

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Value Addition

Inside the Inyange food processing plant in Rwanda.

Also, about 30% to 50% of manufacturing industries is basically based on adding value to agricultural produce. One of the biggest problems is that African value chains are dualistic; they are a mixture of formal and informal value chains. One way of improving these value chains is connecting the huge informal value chains to the smaller more organised formal chains. This helps vital skills, capital, technical knowhow and market information to be passed on from the formal to the informal value chains.

For example in Kenya, the Out-grower Horticultural Scheme ensures that exporters of fresh produce can fund small scale farmers and put in place systems to control the quality of their produce as a condition to provide a ready market for them. The same applies in Rwanda where Inyange Industries procures milk from small scale farmers and cooperative societies and pays according to grade and quality of the milk supplied hence enforcing quality across the milk value chain.

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Strong Demand

According to the report, the strong demand for human food, animal feeds and raw material for biofuel is responsible for increasing demand and therefore high food prices. For example in the United States, corn is majorly used for animal feed but now it has to meet the requirements for biofuel.

In Africa, for example, the demand for wheat flour which is a staple food for bread, chapatti and others while maize is rapidly replacing traditional grains like sorghum and millet or root tubers like cassava and sweet potatoes.

As incomes increase for more Africans, more people are consuming wheat and maize as well as meats which mean more feeds for poultry and livestock to satisfy this demand. As populations increase and more people move to urban areas, demand for food will grow which directly translates into new market and opportunities for increased food production.

Also, limited food supply is driving prices

up which may be good news for farmers and agribusiness practitioners. For example the global yield growth is slowing due to soil exhaustion, green revolution technologies, shrinking research and development budgets in many countries, increasing land degradation, water scarcity and effects of climate change.

Big opportunity

Agribusiness, therefore, apart from being one way of adding value to agricultural produce, is also the missing link between a developed economy with mature ICT, manufacturing and service sectors and the need by the educated rich to have more preferred foods which they cannot produce but can afford to pay for. And therein lays the next big opportunity.

Kelvin Odoobo has experience spanning 8 years in East Africa’s Agribusiness Sector and can be reached on kelviod@yahoo.com or @KelvinOdoobo on Twitter

Value Addition

Restoring Uganda’s forestry cover Uganda’s forest and tree cover has been dwindling in the last 40 years due to the increasing pressure from the population seeking to meet their needs for energy and timber.

T

he constant pressure on the existing tree population without re-afforestation has left Uganda with a heavily depleted forest cover. This called for replacement of the depleted forestry and to increase the country’s tree cover by encouraging and supporting communities, institutions and individuals to plant trees through the Sawlog Production Grant Scheme (SPGS), a public-private partnership funded by the Uganda government and the European Union with support from other development partners.

The SPGS, which began in 2003, aims at promoting private investment in timber production. Under the SPGS support, about 40,000 hectares of commercial tree plantations have been grown across the country.

The SPGS has changed the old mindset in Uganda that tree planting or

afforestation is a responsibility of the government. Today, private investors are increasingly keen on tree planting on small and large scale. The private investors have realized that tree planting, like other businesses, is a profitable undertaking that can provide them with revenue, besides wood for fuel and timber.

Given Uganda’s rapidly growing economy, the country is in dire need to boost her tree plantation wealth to at least 70,000ha by 2025.

It is important that the contribution the SPGS has made in restoring and increasing the country’s forestry wealth is consolidated in order to help Uganda meet her current and future timber and wood needs and also play a part in climate change mitigation.

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COMMERCIAL TREE PLANting IN UGANDA

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Uganda will be self-sufficient in timber by 2020

By Patrick Kagenda

Uganda’s population growth and the resultant demand for timber and timber products have outstripped the country’s timber supply capacity. The increasing pressure on natural forests for timber and wood has led to a crisis of these basic needs. In response to this increasing demand and declining supply capacity, SPGS, a government and donor facilitated scheme, has been supporting tree planting by private investors in order to increase the current forestry cover and make the country selfsufficient in timber and other forestry products. The East Africa Agribusiness magazine talked to Bueno Dickens Sande, the SPGS Project Manager about what the scheme has done to make Uganda meet her timber needs. Below are excerpts.

How many tree nurseries under the SPGS docket are in Uganda and how many tree farmers are benefiting?

How many districts are covered currently and what plans do you have for the other districts not yet covered by SPGS?

To ensure that private commercial tree growers get quality seedlings from trusted seed sources, effective 2010, SPGS has been carrying out a nursery certification programme. Currently there are 49 certified tree nurseries. All our contracted clients are encouraged to buy seedlings from these accredited nurseries.

The number of districts in this country changes by the day, districts being subdivided to create new districts. So it may not be as easy to judge our presence in a region by number of districts covered. However to date, over 500 farmers have benefited from the project since its inception in 2004. The beneficiaries are in 5 main clusters; Albertine, Southwestern, Northern, Central, Victoria.

This concentration was mainly as a result of land allocation by the National Forestry Authority in which most of the central forest reserves that were leased out to private investors were located in these clusters. Many beneficiaries were these licence holders.

However, there are a number of SPGS beneficiaries planting outside these main clusters and these are considered as belonging to “Other” which implies other areas other than the main clusters.

What type of trees are mostly found in these nurseries and what is their maturity period?

There are various trees, both indigenous and exotic, that are raised by these nurseries but the objective of SPGS under its certification scheme is on fast growing and high yielding commercial tree species.

The main commercial species that are raised by these nurseries include Pinus Caribaea var hondurensis (18-25 years), Pinus patula (18-25 years), Eucalyptus grandis (8-15 years) and Hybrid Eucalyptus clones, Teak (Tectona grandis, 30 years), Musizi (Maesopsis eminii) 15-25 years, Terminalia (20-25 years), Araucaria cunninghamii (20-30 years).

How much acreage has been covered since SPGS started supporting tree planting and how much has it cost?

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Bueno Dickens Sande, SPGS Project Manager.

Since 2004, the project has directly supported the planting of over 35,000ha of well managed commercial tree plantations. All this has been planted by the private investors, mostly small to medium scale local entrepreneurs. Although the SPGS target of 40,000ha of timber plantations by end of 2013 is in sight, there is still a long way to meet the country’s timber requirement of 150,000ha by 2020. A total of …billion has been used to establish this acreage.

How much does it cost to put up and maintain a tree nursery?

This varies with the production targets-number of seedlings that the nursery is raising, cost of land, seed, labour and other materials. But on average if you have got the land and need to raise 1kg of seed (species), you need about Shs8m to start a nursery.

There is a rapidly growing population vis

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COMMERCIAL TREE PLANting IN UGANDA

a vis availability of forestry. What dangers does this pose to the forest cover and what mitigation measures does SPGS have in place to counter this situation?

Uganda’s population is one of the fastest growing in the world. With over 90% of its population dependent on fuel wood, there is a lot of pressure that is being placed on the few remaining natural forests. After 30 years of little or no planting, deforestation and forest degradation, Uganda is currently facing firewood, pole and timber crisis and the looming catastrophe of climate change.

SPGS has been instrumental in addressing this problem through its innovative approach to plantation development which is result

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COMMERCIAL TREE PLANting IN UGANDA

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oriented and private sector centred. Forest plantations reduce pressure on natural forests, by providing an alternative source of forest products and services, thus enhancing the conservation of natural forests. Commercial forestry which SPGS promotes is an effective tool for rural development and climate change mitigation but much more a long term strategy for natural forestry conservation.

Now that your project is winding up, are you satisfied with what you have so far achieved, and what happens to the remaining parts of the country where you have no presence especially the eastern and western regions?

A number of benefits have already materialized from the plantations that have been established. Thousands of rural jobs for Ugandans have been created, and the foundation has already

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been created for a profitable and sustainable timber industry which will contribute greatly to Uganda’s development goals if properly nurtured. The plantations will supply in due course a significant part of Uganda’s wood requirements hence saving the remaining natural forest resources from depletion. Many more Ugandans have been indirectly supported through practical training courses, publications and professional technical advice.

It is not true SPGS does not have a presence in the eastern and western parts of the country. SPGS does, only that the number of planters may not be as concentrated as you may find in our major cluster areas.

What is the future of commercial timber production in Uganda?

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May - June 2013

The focus is now going beyond just establishing trees to the development of a processing industry and markets. SPGS is working closely with Uganda Timber Growers Association (UTGA), a forestry member based organization to lay the foundation for attracting invest-

ment to ensure an appropriate processing industry is developed in Uganda in the near future.

On planting, Uganda needs 150,000ha of timber plantations to meet internal demand for timber products by 2020. If the current rate of plantation development is maintained for the next 7 years, Uganda should be largely self-sufficient in timber supply from 2020 onwards. This is on the assumption that NFA continues to support the process by creating a favourable investment environment.

What have been your biggest challenges during the SPGS project span?

Licences to lease on Central Forest Reserves. The 2009 presidential directive banning further leases affected the project. There is less land available to private investors every other year.

-Erratic/changing weather patterns which have affected the tree planting thus affecting our targets too.

-Overwhelming demand in some areas like community support where we are limited by the funds.

Value Addition

By Jim Middleton

D

on’t plant anything until you know how you are going to deal with the harvest.

In my opinion the single biggest constraint to developing commercial agriculture is the unavailability of crop drying and storage facilities in most areas. It is not realistic to expect a farmer to build large storage facilities on his farm, when he is just starting out. But if he knew something was available within a reasonable distance, then he could expand his acreage. We need stores that can accept grain at high moisture contents and preferably be able to take it loose from bulk trailers rather than only accepting bags. In many areas the critical mass is probably not yet there for commercial operators to make the investment, so that would have to be a government initiative.

It is relatively easy to plough and plant a large area, but you risk throwing away your investment and hard work at harvest time if you have not planned well in advance for harvesting and post-harvest storage. I learnt this lesson the hard way in July 2012 when the construction of our silos was delayed by two months and we had to harvest 600 acres of maize, with only one small store available.

What to consider before planting

Very few farmers in Uganda have access to a combine harvester. So even relatively large farms are reliant on labour for harvesting. If a farmer wants to plant a certain number of acres of crop Y, how many people are needed to harvest this in time? Is sufficient labour available locally or will you need to bring people from another district, who will then need accommodation and feeding?

Once harvested, how will the crop be dried and stored? Lack of facilities forces many farmers to sell their crop at harvest time or risk having it go rotten. This leads to a dip in pricing for a few weeks and thus reduces profitability. So ability to dry and store the crop is the way to greater prosperity.

Of all the cereal crops maize has several advantages: It can stay on the stalk for a relatively long time when ready; it is easier to harvest by hand; left on the cob it can be put into cribs at high moisture contents with little problem. Most other crops have a limited

A tractor PTO powered batch drier being filled with grain in preparation for drying.

Think of post-harvest storage before you plant

window for harvest before shedding or sprouting starts and can only be stored when dry or else damage quickly occurs.

Drying on the ground or tarpaulins works well and has no costs in energy. But it is not practical for the larger farmer. On-farm drying can generally be divided into two main types.

On-floor drying is when the bulk crop is stored on the floor of a specially designed warehouse or silo. The floor will be ventilated with closely spaced laterals through which a high volume of air is blown with a fan via an air tunnel. Depending on the design the laterals may either be temporary above ground ones or can be incorporated in the floor during building so can be driven over.

When the air is blown through the crop it begins dying it from the bottom upwards over several days. If the initial moisture content of the crop and the relative humidity of the air are not too high, this may be done without any extra heat input. Heating the air before blowing it into the store will speed up the whole process. If drying maize is done on an on-floor store, the “flies wings� produced during the drying process can partially block the air flow through the grain leaving wet pockets. You may need to have a stirring system in the store to prevent this happening.

The second type of system is using a standalone machine through which the grain passes where it is dried before being discharged and taken for storage. The grain will only spend a few minutes or hours in the machine which uses high energy input to heat the air to enhance the drying process. Nearly

all commercial grain storage operations use this type of system due to the speed and efficiency, and more farmers have also installed them for the same reasons.

This type of drier can be split into two sub-categories; batch or continuous flow machines. As the name suggests with a batch machine the drier is filled to capacity and the grain is re-circulated within the machine until the moisture content is at the desired level, and the whole batch is discharged after a cooling period when cold air only is blown through the grain.

This type of drier is suitable for the smaller farmer or where the type of crop being dried is changed on a regular basis. The disadvantage of the system is that the drier is not drying when it is being filled or emptied, so this limits the output.

Continuous flow driers increase the capacity over the batch drier when operational wet grain is fed into the top of the machine where it is blown with hot air as it passes down the grain column. On the lower part of the drier the nearly dry grain is then blown with ambient air to cool the grain to storage temperature and remove the last 1-2% of moisture. The dry grain then drops out of the bottom of the drier and is taken to the store. The drying process is controlled by the heat input and the rate at which the grain is discharged.

These machines work well with large volumes of crops. Some continuous flow machines can also be adjusted to work as batch driers if so required.

May - June 2013

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Interview

Cooperatives best way to ensure economic growthEMRC Vice President The East Africa Agribusiness magazine asked Mrs Idit Miller, the Vice President and Managing Director of EMRC, (European Marketing Research Centre) what the Centre has done to support agribusiness and private sector development in Africa. EMRC is an international non-profit organisation that promotes African sustainable development through the growing of business partnerships. It is the organizer of the annual Africa Finance & Investment Forum, which brings together experts, financiers, bankers, government officials and civil society to discuss the future of Africa’s SMEs and financial sector and to create business opportunities.

Below are excerpts of the interview.

The Africa Finance & Investment Forum aims at strengthening the private sector in Africa, encouraging entrepreneurship and attracting investment to the continent. What exactly have you done towards achieving these objectives?

The Africa Finance & Investment Forum (AFIF) is one of EMRC’s showcase events, aimed at strengthening the private sector in Africa, by encouraging partnerships and attracting investments. The forum attracts entrepreneurs interested in securing finance for projects and seeking project partnerships; as well as policy makers, financiers and bankers. Over 250 delegates from around the world attend this event to highlight the potential of SMEs, present examples of successful financial innovations and non-financial services, illustrate Africas investment needs, organise business meetings and present innovative projects and techniques.

The main achievement of this forum is that all those connected and working for Africa’s financial improvement find themselves under one roof for two days, discussing and doing business together. Over the two days, business-to-business meetings are organized, which means that most people leave the forum having established contact with potential business partners or having even signed off on a new business partnership.

Another essential component of EMRC’s

events is the Project Incubator Award, which spotlights an innovative African grassroots business. We have had winners ranging from a bee farmer in Uganda to a coffee distributor from Angola. This award is so important for EMRC as it highlights to the rest of Africa and the world that business and agriculture can go hand in hand and be successful. Maybe this is the one most significant achievement in terms of spotlighting successful African enterprises. AFIF also provides

an international platform for all those linked to financing in Africa giving a voice to the big but also the smaller players who form the bedrock of a sustainable Africa.

One of Africa’s development challenges is limited or lack of access to finance especially for agriculture. What is AFIF doing to increase access to finance and help Africa transform her agriculture?

At EMRC we provide an international

May - June 2013

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Interview platform for various subjects linked to Africa’s development in parallel to the role of the private sector. In fact, our two major annual forums focus on finance (AFIF) and the other on Africa’s Agri-food sector (AgriBusiness Forum). So, the financing of Africa’s agricultural sector is a major topic for EMRC. We push to ensure that experts and business leaders involved in Africa’s agricultural sector are given the opportunity to discuss key topics and provide an environment for real tangible business partnerships to be established.

Last year’s AFIF was organised in line with the UN “International Year of Cooperatives”, and was entitled “Financial inclusion through SMEs & Cooperatives”, which is directly linked to Africa’s agricultural sector. The Forum was hosted by Rabobank, and organised in collaboration with FoodFirst-Floriade. The ‘cooperative way’ of doing business is increasingly being viewed as a sustainable way to ensure economic growth and stability in emerging markets, especially since the global financial meltdown has led decision-makers to consider alternatives. Various experts presented their views and called for more cooperation between the private and public sector to fuel this development, and further increase growth rates. We give a voice to all key players to meet and to share their ideas and potential business plans.

AFIF has been strengthening the private sector in Africa. What is there to show it is making an impact?

AFIF allows for like-minded business people to meet and talk and establish concrete business ideas and plans. In the past the international community may have looked at approaching Africa with a sense of development based on providing funds for specific causes. Today the leading consensus is that a robust and growing private sector is essential to growth.

Success is hard to quantify yet there is an underlying trend that more and more people are wanting to participate in AFIF and EMRC’s Economic Missions to India and Israel, which are clear indicators that the private sector is playing a growing role in the continent’s future.

What should Africa do in order to open trade partnerships and market opportunities with the developed world?

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Farmers during an agricultural show in Kigali, Rwanda.

This is something that will be widely discussed during the upcoming forum taking place in Geneva from June 13th-14th. Discussions will focus on Financial Programmes to Promote Trade Relations, Boosting Trade through Entrepreneurship - Building Export Capacities, Agriculture Trade Finance - Improving access to finance within the agricultural/agribusiness sector. Experts will express their views on what needs to be done on the ground to increase trade throughout the region and providing essential income for millions of communities across the continent.

Like for any topic, there are varying views as how to approach the issues linked to Africa and trade opportunities. What EMRC does is regroup the ideas of government officials, financiers, bankers and civil society to ensure that there is a well-rounded discussion and all those involved are represented, creating a very exciting debate and interesting conclusions.

In your view, what should Africa do to turn its abundant agricultural potential into real wealth and reduce hunger and poverty?

EMRC believes that after decades on the sidelines of the global economy, the African continent is fast becoming a major global economic force, with the agricultural sector playing a significant role in this trend. With no less than six of the world’s 10 fastest growing economies over the past decade, Africa is attracting increasing investment, reaching

US$55 billion in 2011. The economic rise of the continent, supported by a growing population of over one billion people, is expected to continue over the next few years, driven by a number of key countries such as Angola, South Africa, Ghana, Senegal, Nigeria, Mozambique, Ethiopia and Kenya. The strategic role of agriculture in Africa’s social and economic development cannot be overstated.

The sector provides livelihoods for about 65% of the continent’s active labour force, and accounts for 32% of the continent’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). No other economic sector on the continent employs more people, or provides a bigger portion of annual wealth produced.

As last year’s AgriBusiness Forum showcased, which was co-organised by EMRC, UNDP and PanAAC, the AgriBusiness Forum 2012 focused on Boosting African agriculture through Partnership, Investment and Technology, in line with commitments made by the G8 group of nations in 2012, and pledges by the international community to address the issue of food security as an opportunity to strengthen socio-economic development in Africa.

Idit Miller is among the first of EMRC’s founding members to recognise the importance of international business networking. Idit dedicates her knowledge and experience to organising international business events.

Start-up guide to

Growing tomatoes to grow income PLUS : Know the health benefits of tomatoes

Farm Guide

Growing tomatoes to grow income

By Michael J. Ssali

T

omatoes, nutritious fruits commonly consumed as vegetables, are a wonderful gift to mankind. On their own they might not make a complete meal.

But often you will not enjoy a good meal without tomatoes. They make our food tasty and they are a dietary item for nearly every household. Most vegetable vendors stock tomatoes all the time and many shops stock tomato sauce. This means there must be farmers to produce tomatoes regularly or sustainably to satisfy the constant market.

In countries like Uganda, where framing heavily depends on rain, prices of fresh tomatoes vary according to the weather seasons. Most farmers grow tomatoes during the rainy season, which creates boom in production and lowers

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the prices. The price tend to be higher during the dry season when production is low because few farmers can grow tomatoes by irrigation.

Tomatoes will not do well during a prolonged drought. But continuous rainfall is not good either; it accelerates rotting or bio-deterioration.

Most agriculturists recommend that for successful tomato production, the garden should be well prepared. No weeds, and no big soil lumps should be left in the garden. The soil should be loose enough to allow easy penetration of rain/water. Quality tomato seeds obtained from a reliable supplier should be planted in a nursery bed and covered loosely with soil. A nursery should be covered with a grass shade or a mat to keep away direct sunlight. The bed should be watered in the morning and in the evening until the seeds germinate.

The seedlings too ought to be watered at least once a day either in the morning or evening. As they near maturity the seedlings in the nursery should be well prepared for the rough conditions of the open garden.

(About a week or so before transplantation the nursery cover should be gradually changed or reduced to allow more sunlight to get to the seedlings. The watering also should be less frequent in order to prepare the seedlings for the rough conditions that prevail in the open garden.

The seedlings

A tomato garden in Masaka district, Uganda.

should be planted at the right depth of about 3cm. They should have acquired the maturity of about six leaves by the time of transplanting. Tomatoes require moderate rainfall.

Too much watering or too little of it is harmful to tomatoes. It is advisable to carry out mulching not only to keep the soil moist but also to ensure the tomatoes don’t touch the soil directly as they grow. Organic manure is the best for tomatoes and it should be applied when it has properly decomposed. A handful of organic manure placed in the hole where the seedling is to be planted is good enough to sustain the crop for the next three or four months.

To produce tomatoes all the time the farmer needs to have different plots planted in different months to ensure progressive harvesting. The garden should not be too far from a water source in case it becomes necessary to

Farm Guide

worms that may attack the crop at any stage of growth. The farmer may also be confronted by nematodes which attack the roots of tomatoes.

However, all the crop pests and diseases cited above can be chemically controlled and pesticides are available in agro-inputs shops. Tomato Bright normally causes the tomato plant to wither even if it is during the rainy season. It is more common during humid weather.

Bacterial Wilt which causes death of the plant is best managed by quick removal and destruction of the infected plants.

Tomato Mosaic is often spread from tobacco plants and by people who touch tobacco such as smokers. If you grow tobacco or you regularly smoke, it is good to avoid working on tomatoes before washing your hands.

Transportation

irrigate the crop.

Depending on the variety of tomatoes that the farmer grows, spacing should be about a foot from one plant to another in one line/row while the lines/rows should be about a yard apart.

The farmer should get seeds from a reliable agro-inputs shop. The most common varieties in Uganda are Money Maker, Bonny Best and Marglobe.

Tomatoes are by nature creepers and wherever possible they should be supported by sticks, dry tree branches or lines of sisal strings to help them stay above the ground. Doing so enables the farmer inspect the tomatoes and to remove such things as side-shoots so that only a few like two or three grow for best yields. It takes about three and half months, after planting, to start harvesting.

culturalist especially these days because of the rampant crop diseases and pests that have come up.

Tomato growers must beware of diseases like Bacterial Wilt, Tomato Blight and Tomato Mosaic. There are

A tomato farmer should have quick means of transport to the market because they are a perishable commodity.

It is also good to have crates in which to carry them so that they don’t get damaged because they are delicate. A mobile phone is important to help the farmer keep constant contact with the buyers.

Disease control and management Every farmer is advised to maintain a good relationship with a trained agri-

A food market in Masaka district, Uganda.

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25

Farm Guide

Health benefits of tomatoes Tomato, the humble vegetable, has attracted millions of health seekers for its incredible phyto-chemical properties. Surprisingly there are more health-benefiting properties in a tomato than in an apple.

The tomato, botanically known as Lycopersicon esculentum, belongs to the same family of common vegetables such as chili peppers, potato, eggplant, etc. Tomatoes are native to Central America and were cultivated by the Aztecs centuries before the Spanish explorers introduced it to all over the world.

■■ Tomatoes are one of the low-calorie vegetables containing just 18 calories per 100g. They are also very low in any fat contents and have zero cholesterol levels. Nonetheless, they are excellent sources of antioxidants, dietary fibre, minerals and vitamins. Because of their all-round qualities, dieticians and nutritionists often recommend them to be included in cholesterol controlling and weight reduction programmes.

■■ The antioxidants present in tomatoes have been scientifically found to be protective of cancers, including colon, prostate, breast, endometrial, lung, and pancreatic tumors.

■■ Lycopene, a flavonoid antioxidant, is the unique phytochemical present in tomatoes. Red varieties are especially concentrated in this antioxidant. Together with carotenoids, it can protect cells and other structures in the body from harmful oxygen-free radicals. Studies have shown that lycopene prevents skin damage from ultra-violet rays and offers protection from skin cancer.

■■ Zea-xanthin is another flavonoid compound present abundantly in tomatoes. Zea-xanthin protects eyes from “age-related macular related disease” in elderly persons by filtering harmful ultra-violet rays.

■■ The vegetable contains very good amounts of vitamin A, and flavonoid anti-oxidants. Altogether, these pigment compounds have antioxidant properties and take part in vision, maintain healthy mucus membranes and skin, and bone health. Consumption of natural vegetables and fruits rich in flavonoids is known to help protect from lung and oral cavity cancers.

■■ Additionally, tomatoes are also a good source of antioxidant vitamin-C. Consumption of foods rich in vitamin C helps the body develop resistance against infectious agents and scavenge harmful free radicals.

■■ Fresh tomato is very rich in potassium. Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids that control heart rate and blood pressure caused by sodium.

■■ Further, tomatoes contain moderate levels of vital B-complex vitamins such as folates, thiamin, niacin, riboflavin as well some essential minerals like iron, calcium, manganese and other trace elements.

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Consumption ■■ Tomatoes are used extensively in cooking in most parts of the world.

■■ Raw ones have extra acidic taste, but when mixed with other ingredients while cooking gives wonderful flavour and rich taste.

■■ Regular as well as cherry tomatoes are one of the popular items in salad preparations.

■■ Fresh tomato juices as well as its soups are increasingly becoming popular health-drinks across the world.

Organic varieties contain three times more lycopene than non-organic.

■■ Unripe green tomatoes are used in many similar ways like other raw vegetables to prepare curries, stews and to make “chutney” in some of the Indian states.

Crop Husbandry

Fertilizers will help you double your crop yields

By Lominda Afedraru

F

armers need to start using fertilizers on their farms to get better crop yields. This is the wise thinking of crop science experts with vast knowledge on fertilizer value in terms of nutrient reinforcement.

Fertilizers are materials designed to provide and feed nutrients to plants and they are supplied in liquid and dry forms. The entry into the plant is both fast and slow depending on a particular type and they comprise both inorganic and organic types.

According to agricultural experts, inorganic fertilizers may grow a greater volume of food, but organic fertilizers grow more nutritious foods.

Both plants and people need a host of micro-nutrients but inorganic fertilizers only supply a handful of these nutrients, while organic fertilizers provide many more.

Organic fertilizers are those that are made out of manure. In Uganda, most smallholder farmers use mixture of cow dung and other ingredients such as maize, rice and cow pea husks unlike inorganic fertilizers which comprise chemical mixture.

According to Dr Lastus Serunjogi Katende, a plant breeder and Technical Advisor to the Cotton Development Organisation, there is minimal use of fertilizers among Ugandan farmers compared to other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa yet our soil is getting depleted of nutrients as a result of overcropping and overgrazing.

For legume crops such as beans, cow peas and groundnuts and trees, Dr Serunjogi says they produce pods which have ability to fix nitrogen from the air which is transferred to the soil through their root nodules. The rhizobium bacteria which live in the roots of these crops fix the nitrogen.

But cereal crops such as maize, millet, sorghum and rice they behave differently, thus the need for farmers to apply fertilizers in fields where they are growing these crops in order to get high yields.

“Sometimes these farmers are not aware that they are applying fertilizers in their fields because some scientists at Makerere University School of Agriculture and Environment mix fertilisers on specific types of seeds. When they are planted, the crops fix the nitrogen into the soil immediately.

This is actually a good way of doing it since farmers are reluctant to use fertilizers,” he said.

Dr Serunjogi placed fertilizers into three categories. There are fertilizers that contain Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium (NPK) which manufacture proteins in plant tissues and seeds and it is usually applied at the seed base during planting.

The second category is Urea fertilizer which is also a good source for nitrogen which is mostly applied to crops such as cotton, maize rice and sorghum. The third is Lime fertilizer which increases calcium in acidic soils.

According to Dr Serunjongi, many cotton farmers are adopting use of fertilizers and Uganda Ginners Association is cooperating with the Uganda Cotton Development Authority to purchase fertilizers which are sold to farmers at subsidised prices.

Okasai Opolot, the Director of Crop Resources in the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, said use of fertilizers in Uganda has been estimated at 1kg per acre.

A study focusing on Central and Eastern Uganda by experts from International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) states that most farmers in Uganda lack information on use of fertilizers and regard them as costly and inefficient.

“Although increase in application of organic fertilizers is recognised as a key strategy for increasing farm productivity, Uganda’s smallholder agricultural sector continues to register one of the lowest fertilizer use level in Sub-Saharan Africa,” the experts stated in the study report.

They noted that developing a sustainable competitive input supply and output marketing system is essential for stimulating fertilizer use in Uganda.

According to the Uganda National Household Survey of 2005/06, a few farmers found to be using fertilizer were rated at 1% of the total farm households surveyed.

The World Bank estimates that an agricultural productivity growth rate of 4% per annum is required to stimulate a satisfactory level of economic development with annual increase of labour and land productivity of 1.5% and 3% respectively.

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27

Crop Husbandry

Creating a

rice revolution

with the Indian model

In a village in India’s poorest state, Bihar, farmers are growing world record amounts of rice – with no Genetic Modification (GM) and no herbicide. Is this one solution to world food shortages?

Sumant Kumar was overjoyed when he harvested his rice last year. There had been good rains in his village of Darveshpura in north-east India and he knew he could improve on the four or five tonnes per hectare that he usually managed. But every stalk he cut on his paddy field near the bank of the Sakri river seemed to weigh heavier than usual, every grain of rice was bigger. And when his crop was weighed on the old village scales, even Kumar was surprised. This was not six or even 10 or 20 tonnes. Kumar, a shy young farmer in Nalanda district of Bihar state, using only farmyard manure and without any herbicides, had grown an astonishing 22.4 tonnes of rice on one hectare of land. This was a world record and with rice the staple food of more than half the world’s population of seven billion.

I

t beat not just the 19.4 tonnes achieved by the “father of rice”, the Chinese agricultural scientist Yuan Longping, but the World Bankfunded scientists at the International Rice Research Institute in the Philippines, and anything achieved by the biggest European and American seed and Genetic

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Modification companies. And it was not just Sumant Kumar. Krishna, Nitish, Sanjay and Bijay, his friends and rivals in Darveshpura, all recorded over 17 tonnes, and many others in the villages around claimed to have more than doubled their usual yields.

The villagers, at the mercy of erratic

weather and used to going without food in bad years, celebrated. But the Bihar state agricultural universities didn’t believe them at first, while India’s leading rice scientists muttered about freak results.

The Nalanda farmers were accused of cheating. Only when the state’s head of

Crop Husbandry agriculture, a rice farmer himself, came to the village with his own men and personally verified Sumant’s crop, was the record confirmed.

The rhythm of Nalanda village life was shattered. Here bullocks still pull ploughs as they have always done, their dung is still dried on the walls of houses and used to cook food. Electricity has not reached most people. Sumant became a local hero, mentioned in the Indian parliament and asked to attend conferences. The state’s chief minister came to Darveshpura to congratulate him, and the village was rewarded with electricity, a bank and a new concrete bridge.

That might have been the end of the story had Sumant’s friend Nitish not smashed the world record for growing potatoes six months later. Shortly after Ravindra Kumar, a small farmer from a nearby Bihari village, broke the Indian record for growing wheat. Darveshpura became known as India’s “miracle village”, Nalanda became famous and teams of scientists, development groups, farmers, civil servants and politicians all descended to discover its secret.

Nitish Kumar speaks quietly of his success and says he is determined to improve on the record. “In previous years, farming has not been very profitable,” he says.

“Now I realise that it can be. My whole life has changed. I can send my children to school and spend more on health. My income has increased a lot.”

What happened in Darveshpura has divided scientists and is exciting governments and development experts. Tests on the soil show it is particularly rich in silicon but the reason for the “super yields” is entirely down to a method of growing crops called System of Rice (or root) Intensification (SRI). It has dramatically increased yields with wheat, potatoes, sugar cane, yams, tomatoes, garlic, aubergine and many other crops and is being hailed as one of the most significant developments of the past 50 years for the world’s 500 million small-scale farmers and the two billion people who depend on them.

Instead of planting three-week-old rice seedlings in clumps of three or four in waterlogged fields, as rice farmers around the world traditionally do, the Darvesh-

A rice garden in India.

While the “green revolution” that averted Indian famine in the 1970s relied on improved crop varieties, expensive pesticides and chemical fertilisers, SRI appears to offer a long-term, sustainable future for no extra cost. pura farmers carefully nurture only half as many seeds, and then transplant the young plants into fields, one by one, when much younger. Additionally, they space them at 25cm intervals in a grid pattern, keep the soil much drier and carefully weed around the plants to allow air to their roots. The premise that “less is more” was taught by Rajiv Kumar, a young Bihar state government extension worker.

Kumar had been trained by Anil Verma of a small Indian NGO called Pran (Preservation and Proliferation of Rural Resources and Nature), which has introduced the SRI method to hundreds of villages in the past three years.

While the “green revolution” that

averted Indian famine in the 1970s relied on improved crop varieties, expensive pesticides and chemical fertilisers, SRI appears to offer a long-term, sustainable future for no extra cost. With more than one in seven of the global population going hungry and demand for rice expected to outstrip supply within 20 years, it appears to offer real hope. Even a 30% increase in the yields of the world’s small farmers would go a long way to alleviating poverty.

“Farmers use less seeds, less water and less chemicals but they get more without having to invest more. This is revolutionary,” said Dr Surendra Chaurassa from Bihar’s agriculture ministry. “I did not believe it to start with, but now I think it can potentially change the way everyone farms. I would want every state to promote it. If we get 30-40% increase in yields, that is more than enough to recommend it.”

The results in Bihar have exceeded Chaurassa’s hopes. Sudama Mahto, an agriculture officer in Nalanda, says a small investment in training a few hundred people to teach SRI methods has resulted in a 45% increase in the region’s yields.

Veerapandi Arumugam, a former agriculture minister of Tamil Nadu state, hailed the system as “revolutionising” farming.

SRI’s origins go back to the 1980s in Madagascar where Henri de Laulanie, a French Jesuit priest and agronomist, observed how villagers grew rice in the uplands. He developed the method but it was an American, professor Norman Uphoff, director of the International Institute

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29

Crop Husbandry

A ouple harvests rice in Rwanda.

for Food, Agriculture and Development at Cornell University, who was largely responsible for spreading the word about De Laulanie’s work.

Given $15m by an anonymous billionaire to research sustainable development, Uphoff went to Madagascar in 1983 and saw the success of SRI for himself: farmers whose previous yields averaged two tonnes per hectare were harvesting eight tonnes. In 1997 he started to actively promote SRI in Asia, where more than 600 million people are malnourished.

“It is a set of ideas, the absolute opposite to the first green revolution [of the 60s] which said that you had to change the genes and the soil nutrients to improve yields. That came at a tremendous ecological cost,” says Uphoff. “Agriculture in the 21st century must be practised differently.

Land and water resources are becoming scarcer, of poorer quality, or less reliable.

Climatic conditions are in many places more adverse. SRI offers millions of disadvantaged households far better opportunities. Nobody is benefiting from this except the farmers; there are no patents, royalties or licensing fees.”

For 40 years now, says Uphoff, science has been obsessed with improving seeds and using artificial fertilisers: “It’s been genes, genes, genes. There has never been talk of managing crops. Corporations say ‘we will breed you a better plant’ and

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breeders work hard to get 5-10% increase in yields. We have tried to make agriculture an industrial enterprise and have forgotten its biological roots.”

Not everyone agrees. Some scientists complain there is not enough peerreviewed evidence around SRI and that it is impossible to get such returns. “SRI is a set of management practices and nothing else, many of which have been known for a long time and are best recommended practice,” says Achim Dobermann, deputy director for research at the International Rice Research Institute. “Scientifically speaking I don’t believe there is any miracle. When people independently have evaluated SRI principles then the result

Bihar is now at the centre of what is being called a “new green grassroots revolution” with farming villages, research groups and NGOs all beginning to experiment with different crops using SRI

has usually been quite different from what has been reported on farm evaluations conducted by NGOs and others who are promoting it. Most scientists have had difficulty replicating the observations.”

Dominic Glover, a British researcher working with Wageningen University in the Netherlands, has spent years analysing the introduction of Genetically Modified crops in developing countries. He is now following how SRI is being adopted in India and believes there has been a “turf war”.

“There are experts in their fields defending their knowledge,” he says. “But in many areas, growers have tried SRI methods and abandoned them. People are unwilling to investigate this. SRI is good for small farmers who rely on their own families for labour, but not necessarily for larger operations. Rather than any magical theory, it is good husbandry, skill and attention which results in the super yields. Clearly in certain circumstances, it is an efficient resource for farmers. But it is labour intensive and nobody has come up with the technology to transplant single seedlings yet.”

But some larger farmers in Bihar say it is not labour intensive and can actually reduce time spent in fields. “When a farmer does SRI the first time, yes it is more labour intensive,” says Santosh Kumar, who grows 15 hectares of rice and vegetables in Nalanda. “Then it gets easier and new innovations are taking place now.”

Last month Nobel prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz visited Nalanda district and recognised the potential of this kind of organic farming, telling the villagers they were “better than scientists”. “It was amazing to see their success in organic farming,” said Stiglitz, who called for more research. “Agriculture scientists from across the world should visit and learn and be inspired by them.”

Bihar is now at the centre of what is being called a “new green grassroots revolution” with farming villages, research groups and NGOs all beginning to experiment with different crops using SRI. (Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/globaldevelopment/2013/feb/16/india-rice-farmersrevolution)

MONTH 2013

Theme: Theme: “Increasing Milk Production to Match Growing Demand”

SUPPLEMENT

JUNE DAIRY

THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, ANIMAL INDUSTRY AND FISHERIES

DAIRY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (DDA)

JUNE DAIRY MONTH Theme: “Increasing Milk Production to Match Growing Demand” What is June Dairy Month?

June Dairy month is celebrated world over to recognize the contribution of the different stakeholders in the dairy industry. The celebrations in Uganda have for the last couple of years been organized by Dairy Development Authority (DDA) with support from the different stakeholders.

The focus for this year’s celebrations is to rally dairy farmers to take advantage of the improved milk marketing and the increased milk prices to produce more milk.

Before

After

About Dairy Development Authority Dairy Development Authority (DDA) is a statutory body under the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) that was established under the Dairy Industry Act, 1998.

Mandate

A dynamic, profitable and well regulated dairy sector

The dairy subsector in Uganda has since liberalization, experienced growth averaging 8% per annum.

Growth has been, and continues to be registered in milk production, milk collection infrastructure, milk transportation, processing and exports with a resultant reduction in imports.

Mission

Milk Collection

To provide sustainable dairy development and regulatory services for increased production, processing, marketing, consumption of milk and milk products.

Inadequate milk collection infrastructure which was hitherto a serious constraint to milk collection and marketing is being gradually addressed by Government together

The mandate of the Authority is to develop and regulate the dairy sub sector in Uganda.

Vision

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Performance of the Dairy Sub Sector

May - June 2013

with her development partners. In the year 2012 alone, a total of 33 milk coolers with a total capacity of 99,000 litres were installed and refurbishment of two Milk Collection Centres (MCCs) completed. One of the activities that have been lined up for the celebrations is the commissioning of the newly refurbished Serere and Kaberamaido MCCs pictured below

Raw milk prices The prices paid out to farmers have a direct impact on the quantities of milk that farmers are willing to

produce. Previously, the amount of money paid out to dairy farmers was rather low. With increased demand coupled with increase in the both the number of processing plants and processing capacity the prices are projected to rise. It is for this reason that the focus for this year’s celebrations is aimed increasing production.

Average farm gate price of milk in selected districts

Milk Transportation Milk transportation from the collection centres (mainly in rural areas) to milk processing plants and

products along the dairy value chain.

This is carrying out inspections and licensing premises and carrying out laboratory analysis of milk and milk products.

The National Dairy Analytical Laboratory has been relocated, from Entebbe to UMA Show Grounds in Lugogo Kampala, and the process of accreditation of the laboratory to international standards in ongoing.

Milk and Dairy product Exports

urban raw milk markets is done by milk road tankers (pictured below).

This is a transformation from the use of plastic containers in pickup trucks in the past.

Processing Milk is a highly perishable product and must therefore be processed to extend its shelf life and therefore access both local and far off markets.

This is in line with Government policy on value addition where by investors, both local and foreign, have been encouraged to investment in milk processing among other investment areas.

Pearl dairy located in Mbarara has added an extra 250,000 litres to the existing 811,830.litres per day of processing capacity. This development brings the total installed processing capacity to 1,061,830 litres per day.

There was a threefold rise in the value of exported milk and dairy products from US$3.4 million in 2011 to $11.5 million in 2012. The value is projected to rise owing to the increased demand for milk and milk products in the region and beyond.

Most of the processing plants that are being set up are processing long

life products like milk powder, UHT milk and Ghee which can easily access distant markets. Imports on the other hand decreased from $1.9 million in 2011 to $1.4 million in 2012. Uganda is thus a net exporter of milk and dairy products. This in turn points to Uganda being self-sufficient in milk production.

June Dairy Month 2013 The main celebrations for June Dairy Month are scheduled to take place on 27th June 2013 at the Mbarara Independence Park

Schedule of Activities The official launch of the National Dairy Strategy on 27th June 2013 at Mbarara Independence Park Official launch of the Dairy Development Authority regional office in Mbarara on 27th June 2013 An exhibition by the various dairy value chain players from 25th June 2013 to 27th June 2013 Commissioning of refurbished Serere and Kaberamaido milk collection centres Corporate Social Responsibility For more information, Please contact us: Dairy Development Authority (DDA) Plot 1 Kafu Road, Nakasero P. O. Box 34006, Kampala, Uganda Tel: 256-414-343901/343903, Fax: 256414-250270 E-mail: ed@dda.or.ug Website: www.dda.or.ug

Quality and Safety of milk DDA is charged with ensuring the quality and safety of milk and dairy

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33

Milking for

Health & Wealth Building sustainable dairy supply chains does not mean sacrificing milk quality and on-farm production. It means building volumes for wealth and health along the chain.

East Africa Dairy Development Project Over 200 000 smallholder dairy farmers in Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda are now linked to commercial dairy value chains as a result of an innovative project, East Africa Dairy Development-Heifer International (EADD).

By building credible, high impact sustainable supply chains and learning centres in the three countries, EADD has enabled farmers to use locally available natural resources to build wealth. EADD was funded with USD 51 million, spread out in 5 years, with approximately USD 10.6 million of that invested directly to EADD project in Uganda.

The successes of this investment in Uganda are worth noting, with the project mobilizing 45203 farmers across the Central Region. Since 2009, it has assisted the farmers to market 72 million litres of milk valued at USD 20 million.Of this, USD 16.8 million was direct payment to farmers.

Managed by a consortium of partners including Heifer International, International Livestock Research Institute, World Agroforestry Center, Technoserve and ABS-TCMEADD sets to achieve three objectives by implementing the dairy hub business approach. Firstly, Increase dairy production at the farm level; secondly, improve farmers’ access to markets, and thirdly, implement a knowledge based project that is informed by reality on the ground through continuous research that informs programme design.

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Benefits of EADD to dairy industry Integrated interventions aimed at increasing on-farm productivity and milk quality.

Consistent supply of quality inputs to farmers including feeds, agro vet services and breeding.

Quality control processes at milk collection/chilling centres that meet processor standards resulting into impetus for dairy industry growth Continuous research and documentation of lessons learned and best practices across the value chain that can inform future projects, interventions or policies

Achievements in Uganda

Certification of raw milk trade

Milk collection centres have transformed communities

Together with the Dairy Development Authority, SNV and Uganda National Dairy Traders Association (UNDATA), we introduced the certification and accreditation of raw milk trade.

Specifically by focusing on training and certifying raw milk traders so as to improve hygiene standards and thus improve quality of raw milk traded. 306 raw milk traders have been trained in the central region

In Uganda, 45203 farmers are enjoying benefits of collective marketing and investment. EADD supplemented farmers own funding to buy and set up 24 milk coolers. This is in addition to EADD staff providing business development services to the hubs. Milk collection centres - directly link the farmers to buyers/processors increasing the farmers profit margins.

Nabitanga Dairy, for example, has generated UGX 1.3 billion from an initial investment of UGX 200 million Nabitanga Dairy, Kiboga Livestock , Kinyogoga Dairies, Dwaniro Dairy and Lugushuru Dairy are some of the chilling plants that have improved milk collection and revenue expectations targets. A combination of shrewd management, integrated member services and extension, have transformed these hubs into model dairy hubs.

To date EADD Uganda has organized 45,203 farmers in 45 dairy cooperatives of which 16,524 are milk suppliers. Since 2009, EADD in Uganda has enabled marketing of 72 million litres of milk valued at USD 20 million, of this USD 16.8 million was payment to farmers

A technical expert checks the quality of milk in one of EADD partner cooperatives

Partnership with private and public sector

Think profits. Think knowledge. Think success. Think growth... and one more thing; think about joining us to transform the lives of thousands of farmers and attain the Millennium Development Goals. We will develop appropriate solutions informed by the pilot project (2008-2013). A partnership built on the potential partners experience mixed with our own appreciation of community needs (farmers, processors, governments, input suppliers and other businesses).

EADD is a catalyst that facilitates development of a functioning market that serves needs and interests of all players including resource-poor smallholder farmers. We have partnered with processors and financial institutions including: Sameer Agriculture and Livestock (Kenya and Uganda), Nestle, Tetra Pak, Bank of Uganda, PSF-Uganda EADD welcomes partners from the private and public sectors who can provide leveraging services or funding in the following areas: Equity investors and angel investors to adopt profit making cooperatives Provision of technical services and training to increase on-farm productivity Enablers of access to markets, affordable extension services and inputs Learning institutions to adopt cooperatives

Introducing innovative technology for smallholder farmers

We have promoted adoption of technology solutions including basic on-farm mechanisation, artificial insemination based breeding and farmland optimisation. So far, 45, 203 farmers have been trained in animal husbandry practices; and over 38,247 inseminations for improved breeds conducted over a period of 5 years using proven sire.

For more information about the East Africa Development Project, Please contact: Country Project Manager, East Africa Dairy Development (EADD) Project, Plot 14 Lourdel Rd, Nakasero. P.O. Box 28491, Kampala, Uganda, T: +256-414-231828, F: +256-414-251455.

Email: eadd@eadairy.org . Web: www.heifer.org/eadd May - June 2013

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Diary Month

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May - June 2013

lf e s r u o y it o D

Diary Month

How to make your own fertilizers

P

lants tell you what they need.

It is very easy to recognize if a crop does not get enough nutrients. A change in colour of the leaves is an indication the crop has inadequate nutrients. So farmers should be ready to correct the problem before it is too late. Lack of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium is the most common deficiency. These nutrients are needed in larger quantities when plants are in the growing stage. Of course, the most important step lies in managing soil fertility throughout the year. Feed the soil, which in turn feeds the plant. The continuous use of compost, livestock manure, green manure, cover crops, soil-applied rock minerals and well planned crop rotation are paramount in building up soil fertility, resulting in healthy plants that can withstand pests and diseases.

A farmer can support this process through feeding the growing plant directly – with foliar feed, commonly known as liquid manure. Foliar application gives nutrients to plants directly onto the leaves and the stems.

Observed effects of foliar fertilization include increased yields, resistance to diseases and insect pests, improved drought tolerance and enhanced crop quality. In terms of nutrient absorption, foliar fertilization can be up to 20 times more efficient than compost or any other fertilizers.

Making liquid manure

Liquid manures are prepared by dipping a bag full of manures and a variety of freshly cut plants with nutrients, pesticidal and medicinal properties suspended in a drum full of water. The sack is tied to a stick and lowered into the drum. The bag should

stir the mixture and speed up the release of nutrients.

Usually, the solution has a strong smell because the excess nitrogen turns to ammonia. It is important to cover the drum to stop the escape of nitrogen. If the smell disappears, it means the liquid is ready for use. The water also turns brown showing that the mixture is ready for use. Dilute the mixture before use and sieve it well. Apply the liquid fertilizer every week until you notice changes in the crop.

Using plants-only manure

contain about 30 to 50 kg of manure and plant material to 200 litres of water. The farmer should hold one end of the stick and lift it up and down every 5 days to

If you make foliar feed from plants only, it is advisable to use many different plants, such as African marigold, stinging nettle tomato leaves, neem, comfrey, sodoms apple, lantana, garlic and others.

These plants help control pests, diseases and also add important nutrients that enable the production of a healthy crop without the farmers having to incur the costs of buying fertilizers (inputs).

Tips For foliar feeds to work effectively, certain guidelines must be followed: ■■ For efficiency and avoidance of crop damage, very dilute solutions of nutrient formulations are recommended. Highly concentrated sprays have the potential to burn plant leaves.

■■ Leave the water you use for diluting to stand in an open tank overnight; this generally renders chlorinated water harmless to microbial mixtures.

■■ Sieve it properly. Small, un-dissolved particles can quickly clog nozzles.

■■ Best effect is achieved when foliar sprays are finely atomized and when wind is minimal. Absorption is increased when sprays also reach and coat the undersides of leaves. This is where most of the plant’s stomata are located.

■■ Apply foliar feed late in the evening or in the early dawn, when temperature is cool and wind is minimal

May - June 2013

37

Aquaculture

Fish farming; A poverty eradication strategy for Africa

By Emanu Georwell

F

ish farming is one of the most profitable forms of farming.

However, only a few individuals with capital to buy the fish seeds commonly known as fry or fingerlings are engaged in this lucrative farming.

Like any other form of farming, fish rearing needs professional guidance, training and monitoring especially for beginners. Most farmers copy from others what to invest in without understanding what it takes to get the expected harvest or returns.

In Uganda, few farmers have the knowledge and skills in fish farming. Therefore,

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it is important to consult fisheries technicians or officials who have sufficient exposure to fish farming.

In Uganda, organizations such as Geossy Ltd, Kajjansi Research Centre and District Fisheries extension staff in Uganda can provide professional and practical information about fish farming.

Avoiding conmen who masquerade as “fish experts” is one way of becoming a successful fish farmer. These conmen have ruined most fish farmers. It is easy to identify these “fake experts”. As they approach you to engage them for their services, ask them for their academic documents and referees from the institutions or universities they attended.

Key points to note ■■ Fish farming is one of the most profitable forms of farming.

■■ Poor pond construction is the beginning of failure of fish farming.

■■ Poor water quality is due to poor farm management and pond construction.

■■ Specific fish types do well in different geographical areas.

■■ Poor quality fish seeds lead to poor growth rate and high mortality (deaths).

■■ Proper feeds are needed for faster fish growth.

■■ Supplementary feeding increases profits and reduces the growth period.

■■ Rear fish that has high local market/ demand.

■■ Your farm needs your attention in order for you to realize your expectations.

Basic knowledge in fish farming Fish farming is not obvious but rather needs training. The training is normally done before stocking the fish pond and more skills can be acquired during rearing.

Kajjansi Aquaculture Research Centre, Geossy Co. Ltd in Kampala, Umoja Fish Farm in Wakiso and others provide such training and guidance in Uganda. However, Geossy Ltd provides free consultancy services and trainings to farmers all over

Aquaculture

Different fish species grow differently in different rearing environments. For example, in ponds Catfish and Mirror Carp gain weight more than Tilapia.

Therefore farmers are advised to rear a fish type that is suited to the given environment. Cold places such as Kabale and Kapchorwa in Uganda and others are ideal for Mirror Carp fish since it grows well under cold temperatures. Warmer areas are good for Catfish and Tilapia.

The pond depth must also be designed to suit the area’s temperatures. If it is poorly designed, rapid temperature changes will affect the fish growth rate hence poor yields and prolong maturity period.

before it’s given to fish and proper care must be taken during storage to prevent growth of fungi and other toxic organisms that can affect or retard fish growth or even kill them.

The feed should be given in small quantities several times a day in order for the fish to benefit from the nutrients and reduce feed wastage due to damping other than giving them the same amount of feed once a day.

To reduce over-spending in commercial feeds, farmers can improve the growth rate by providing supplementary feeds. For example a farmer can fertilize the pond by putting a mixture of cow dung and chicken droppings in sacks and suspend at the pond corners. This generates microorganisms for fish, especially tilapia, to feed on.

Use of lanterns to provide light at night will attract insects into the pond for fish to feed on and reduce on the amount of feed you need to buy. Insects have all the nutrients for faster fish growth. Supplementary feeding is recommended from the third month onwards.

Pond nature

Commitments to the fish farm

In his book, Fish Farming as a Business, Dr Rutaisire says: “A poorly constructed pond is the beginning of failure in fish farming.”

In Uganda, about 98% of ponds are constructed by unskilled people without basic knowledge on pond construction. This leads to automatic failure in fish farming because poorly constructed ponds affect fish growth and yields no matter the quality seeds and feeds a farmer uses.

Many farmers are not committed to their fish farms, after stocking they abandon the farm. Some farmers believe that fish feeds on water. This is not true. Fish must be fed like any other livestock.

East and South Africa. Others may charge between Shs0.4m and Shs1m (about $182 – $455).

All farmers must know fish behaviours before starting fish farming. Alternatively they can employ trained personnel to manage their farms who can later train other farm staff.

Fish species and location

Maturity period Many farmers say it takes six months for Catfish to gain 1-2kg on average while others say it takes more than a year to raise a one- kilo Catfish. Growth rate in fish farming depends on several factors starting with the quality of fish fingerlings, pond nature, water quality management, nutrient value in the feed, feed type, feeding rate, fish species, source of feed, stocking density, water source, the pond’s geographical location, among others.

In Egypt, Israel and China, fish takes few months to gain the weight we achieve in

Uganda and other African countries after 12-18 months yet they don’t use magic feed but rather proper pond construction, good quality seeds, proper feeding, good water quality and supplementary feeding.

A farmer in Luzira, Uganda, stocked his small pond of 112m2 with poor quality fish fingerlings supplied by a fish farm in Entebbe. She spent 7 months to raise 150g of tilapia. Geossy Co. Ltd sent a team of fisheries officers to guide her to restock with good quality tilapia seeds. At 4 months the average fish weight was 350g, a proof that good fish seeds can determine the growth period and weight.

Feed type Fish doesn’t digest uncooked feed properly. Neither does it benefit nutritionally from maize bran (it’s worse with catfish).

However, maize jam and wheat bran are highly nutritional for fish.

On-farm made feed must be precooked

Fish market Farmers should aim at the locally available market first. Value addition is very important. Geossy Ltd helps farmers in marketing fish and fish products.

Rwanda buys lots of tilapia fish fingerlings at Uganda Shilling 800 (US$ 0.4) each. A kilo of fish costs between Shs8,000 to Shs12,000 (US$ 3.6–5.5) in the local market in Uganda. Value addition raises the cost to up to Shs10,000-15,000 (US$ 4.0–5.6) per kilo in East Africa.

Emanu Georwell holds a BSc. in Fisheries and Aquaculture (Cairo University) He is also Director of Geossy Co. Ltd in Nalukolongo, Kampala geossyco.ltd@gmail.com www.geossylimited.com,

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Nutrition

quality feeds vital for animal and human health

By Ddamba Godfrey

U

ganda’s agriculture quality control/ management system has suffered alot and this has caused huge losses to farmers. Research shows that poor inputs into farming systems such as substandard feeds, poor chicks and unreliable extension services are responsible for the farmers’ losses.

Proper animal feeding provides a diet balanced in all nutrients that are free of deleterious components, at a level that meets the production objective, considering the animal’s physiological state, and generates animal products that are safe for human consumption. Proper animal feeding improves land use, animal welfare, health, productivity, product quality, procuct safety and minimises environmental emissions and water pollution.

Subsequentlty, Ugachick being among the leading livestock and fish feed producers in the East african region, and a major producer of chicks and dressed

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chicken, has set up a reliable quality assurance system. Ugachick has invested in a laboratory to consistently check on the qaulity of her inputs and output products before they are put on market.

Why Ugachick invested in lab infrastructure Ugachick is an integrated agribusiness compa ny that is involved in producing feeds, chicks and dressed chicken.

■■ Different raw materials from different parts of the country are processed using different methods and thus have different nutrition composition.To ensure consistency in quality products, Ugachick must continuously analyze every raw material to ascertain its quality and nutritional value.

■■ There is alot of malpractices and unscrupulousness in the raw materials market where suppliers sell sub-standard or fake inputs.

Consequently, this affects the quality and output of the final product for the consumer.

So, to fix the problems these unscrupuloius suppliers cause to the final consumer and

feed producer, there is need to have a labaratory that can do quick and effective quality analysis.

■■ Having materials analysed gives guaratee that what is produced is of the required standard and enhances the product value.

Ugachick is right now in the process of getting the ISO certification which is a recognition of international quality stardards. It is a requirement for the agricultural firm to have all analytical documents that serve as evidence of compliance with quality standards for the products manufactured.

■■ One way to ensure product quality consistence and customer confidence is through continuous laboratory analysis and provision of reliable results. Customer confidence increases sales within Uganda and the regional countries like Rwanda and Kenya where certification is a requirement for exports.

■■ For compliance checks by the national and internationanal regulatory bodies, the Ugachick laboratory shall serve as a reference to ensure the company’s feeds and food products are safe for the final consumer. For example, analytical reports made in this lab on the state of micro-oganisms such as ecoli which is not supposed to exist in any food product before it is declared safe for human consumption, shall be of great value to regulatory bodies.

■■ An analytical/microbology laboratory is a requirement for any feed/food processing industry to be incorporated in the regional integration and trade systems. Hence, Ugachick being a lead exporter of feeds in the region, and dressed chicken in Uganda, an analytical labaratory is paramount. In the long run, this will increase Uganda’s market share in the region and hence revenue.

■■ Policy makers and other stakeholders have to ensure that whatever is consumed by the public does not compromise health standards.

This labaratory will ensure all products that are produced are safe for human and livestock consumption.

To realise a productive and sustainable livestock industry, raw material and product safety monitoring are critical and that’s where the focus of Ugachick lies.

Ddamba Godfrey is the Quality Controller, Ugachick Poultry Breeders Ltd

Uganda National Roads Authority

Roadworks

update

UGANDA NATIONAL ROADS AUTHORITY

March 2013

B

efore UNRA became operational in July 2008, the condition of the national roads network was poor.

The percentage of the road network in Fair to Good condition was estimated at 50% for unpaved roads and 65% for paved roads. There was public outcry about the poor state of the roads

in the country. In 2012, the condition of the network in Fair to Good condition was 77% for paved roads and 66% for unpaved roads.

This shows substantial improvement of the national roads network despite doubling it without proportionate increase in the road maintenance budget.

To-date over 1200km of paved roads

have been constructed or rehabilitated.

Construction of 8 major bridges has been completed and over 20,000km of roads are maintained by UNRA every year.

Below is an update on the progress of ongoing and planned major road works around the country.

Progress of road rehabilitation/strengthening projects Road Project

Progress

1

Kampala - Masaka – Mbarara – Katuna (416km)

Masaka – Mbarara road (148km) section; completed in August 2012.

Kampala – Nsangi and Kamengo – Lukaya road (63 km) section; completed in July 2012.

Nsangi – Kamengo and Lukaya – Masaka road (51km) section; 25% of the works completed.

10 km out of 51 completed.

Mbarara – Ntungamo – Katuna road (123km) section; 20% of the road works completed.

2

Tororo – Mbale – Soroti (152km)

Tororo – Mbale section; 23.7% of the works completed. 14km out of 49km tarmacked.

Mbale – Soroti section; 26% of the works completed. 21km out of 103km tarmacked.

3

Jinja – Kamuli (58km)

46% of road works had been completed. 18km out 57km completed.

4

Jinja - Mukono road (52km)

20% had been completed.

5

Kafu – Karuma (GOU)

Procurement of the contractor for rehabilitation works ongoing. In addition, procurement of the design consultant for full reconstruction is ongoing.

6

Lira – Kamdini – Gulu (128km)

Major maintenance works for Lira-Kamdini-Karuma completed in 2011. Procurement of the design consultant for full reconstruction of Lira – Kamdini – Gulu road is ongoing.

7

Mukono – Kayunga - Njeru (94km)

Earmarked for piloting pavement recycling technology. Works to commence in FY 2014/15

8

Kawempe – Kafu (overlay)166km)

64% had been completed. 105km out of the 166km have been completed.

9

Bugiri – Malaba/Busia (82km)

55% of the road works had been completed. 45km out of the 82km have been completed

INFRASTRUCTURE DEV'T Uganda National Roads Authority

Progress of projects for upgrading to tarmac Progress of ongoing projects and those due to commence for upgrading to paved standard.

Road Project Progress 1 Nyakahita – Ibanda – Kamwenge – Fort Nyakahita – Kazo road (68km)AfDB): 90% of the road works had been completed.

Portal (208km) Kazo – Kamwenge road (75km)AfDB): 40% of the road works had been completed.

Kamwenge – Fort Portal (65km)IDA/WB):Under procurement 2 Mbarara – Kikagati - Murongo 40% of the road works have been completed.

Bridge(74km) 3 Gulu – Atiak – Bibia (Sudan border) (104km) Atiak – Gulu road (74km)IDA):12% of the road works had been completed.

Atiak – Nimule road (35km)JICA):Contract Signed 4 Vurra – Arua – Koboko – Oraba (92km) 14% of the road works have been completed 5 Hoima – Kaiso – Tonya (92km) 10% of the road works have been completed.

6 Ntungamo – Kakitumba - Mirama Hills / Ishaka – Kagamba (35km):11% of the road works had been completed.

Ishaka –Kagamba (72km) Ntungamo – Kakitumba /Mirama Hills (37km: Procurement of the contractor and supervision consultant is ongoing.

7 Moroto – Nakapiripirit (93km) Contracts awarded. Contractor is mobilising equipment and personnel to commence works.

8 Masaka- Bukakata (41km) The loan request tabled to Parliament for approval. Works will commence before the end of 2013.

9 Kyenjojo- Hoima-Masindi-Kigumba Phase1: Kigumba- Masindi – Hoima – Bulima – Kabwoya (135km)AfDB): under (238km) procurement.

Kabwoya – Kyenjojo (105km): Under procurement.

10 Atiak – Moyo – Afoji (92km) Construction of bridges and box culverts ongoing.

Progress on Capacity improvement projects This category of pledges has four roads for capacity improvement/ construction of dual carriageways radiating from Kampala. By December 2012, works had commenced for one project, one had complete design and 2 were under design.

1 2

Road Project Kampala – Entebbe Express Highway (51km) Kampala Northern Bypass (21km)

3

Kibuye - Busega - Mpigi (30km)

4

Kampala - Jinja (80 km)

5 6

Kampala Southern Bypass (18 km) Kampala – Bombo (35km)

Progress Works commenced in November 2012.

The design was completed and tendering of works awaits approval by Parliament of the European Investment Bank loan.

Detailed Engineering design is ongoing and will be completed by June 2013.

Construction will be financed under PPP. Detailed Engineering design is ongoing and will be completed by June 2013.

Construction will be financed under PPP. Detailed design ongoing.

Procuring design services

President Yoweri Museveni during the ground-breaking ceremony for the Entebbe Expressway. Above: Artistic impression of the Entebbe Expressway.

42

May - June 2013

INFRASTRUCTURE DEV'T Uganda National Roads Authority

Projects under Contractor

20

Facilitated Financing The CFF approach entails the invitation of tenders for both works implementation as well as financing for the project. Under this approach, developers/contractors are selected on the basis of (i) Capacity to undertake the project, (ii) Capability to organize funding for the project (iii) financial offer and (iv) acceptable lending terms. The approach therefore creates competition on technical, financial and project financing terms which is expected to result in Value for Money for Government. Works on these roads will commence in 2014.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

Road Project Mukono – Kyetume - Katosi/ Kisoga – Nyenga Rukungiri-Kihihi – Ishasha/Kanungu Kapchorwa – Suam Mpigi – Kabulasoke – Maddu – Sembabule Olwiyo- Gulu- Kitgum Muyembe-Nakapiripirit and Moroto- Kotido Soroti- Katakwi- Moroto- Lokitanyala Villa Maria – Sembabule Musita – Lumino – Busia/Majanji Mbale –Bubulo –Magale/Lwakhakha Hoima - Wanseko Kayunga – Galiraya Buwaya-Kasanje-Mpigi/Kanoni-Mityana Hamurwa-Kerere-Kanungu/ Bulema-BuhomaButogota-Hamayanja-Ifasha-Ikumba Atiak – Moyo – Afoji Kabwoya – Kyenjojo Ishasha-Katunguru Kabale-Bunyonyi Kisoro-Mgahinga Gate

Km 74 74 77 135 167 193 208 48 104 41 111 88.5 60 149 104 105 88 8 14

Kisoro-Nkuringo/Bwindi

40

Call for Expression of Interest Submission of Expressions of Interest Notification of Short-listed Providers Issue Bidding Documents Notification of Best Evaluated Bidder

12 July 2012 31 October 2012 15 March 2013 30 March 2013 30 September 2013

Roads Designed for upgrading to tarmac Designs for these roads have been completed. Government is seeking funds for construction of these roads.

Road Km 1 Rwenkunye – Apac – Lira – Kitgum– Musingo 350 2 Tirinyi - Pallisa – Kumi/Pallisa – Mbale 111 3 Namagumba- Budadiri- Nalugugu 30 4 Kamuli- Bukungu 64 5 Luwero-Kiwoko-Butalangu; 32 6 Nebbi-Golli 14.4 7 Ocoko-Inde 32.8 8 Mityana-Kanoni 37.2 9 Kyegegwa-Kazo 87 10 Jinja - Buwenda –Mbulamuti – Kamuli 60

Progress of Feasibility study and design of roads Road Atiak-Kitgum Pajule-Pader Kotido-Kaabong Angatun-Lokapel Kashozi-Buremba-Kariro; Kashwa-Kashongi-Ruhumba; Kisubi-Nakawuka-Natete Nakawuka-Kasanje-Mpigi Nakawuka-Mawugulu-NanzigaMaya 10 Kasanje-Buwaya

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Km 108 18 64 47 53 33 27 20 15 9

Progress Feasibility studies and detailed designs ongoing

Feasibility studies and detailed designs to commence in FY 2013/14

Kampala-Masaka-Mbarara highway

May - June 2013

43

INFRASTRUCTURE DEV'T Uganda National Roads Authority

The completed Aswa Bridge

An artistic impression of the Nile Bridge in Jinja.

Progress on Bridge works on National roads Bridge 2nd Nile bridge at Jinja; Nsongya bridge in Kabarole district; Aswa bridge on Gulu – Kitgum road; Bulyamusenyu bridge connecting Nakaseke to Masindi district Muzizi bridge connecting Kibale to Kyenjojo district; Awoja bridge along Mbale – Soroti road; Apak bridge in Lira district; Nyamugasane bridge in Kasese district; Napienanya, Nabilatuk and Lolachat bridges; Alla and Enyao Bridges in Arua (BADEA)act negotiations held a June 2013. ced.ced. ractor facilitated financing arrangements. Government will take the final de Pakwala, Nyacara, Goli and Nyagak Bridges in Nebbi (BADEA) Daca, Ure, Envetre and Uzurungo Bridges on Arua – Wandi – Yumbe road.

Mitaano Bridge in Kanungu Ntungwe Bridge in Kanungu Birara Bridge Karuma Bridge across the Nile Masindi Port Bridge across the Nile

Progress Works bids were invited. Construction to commence by October 2013 The bridge was completed in June 2011.

The bridge was completed in September 2011.

The bridge was completed in September 2012.

Bridge was completed in June 2012 45% of the works completed.

Works were tendered out in Dec. 2012.

Contract signature await funds Planned for FY 2014/15 Contract awarded and works to commence by June 2013.

Contract awarded and works to commence by June 2013.

Works are ongoing.

Evaluation of bids was completed and works are expected to commence by June 2013.

Evaluation of bids was completed and works are expected to commence by June 2013.

Bids were invited Procuring design consultant Procuring design consultant

The design and preparation of bidding documents for Bridges destroyed by floods in Karamoja region are ongoing. The bridges include; Nalakas , Nanyenyi and Kaabong (in Kaabong), Nakosowan and Lodoketangisira Bridges on Kaabongo – Kapedo road Lopei (Moroto – Kotido road), Kangole (Moroto – Soroti road), Amudat (in Nakapiripirit), Ngenge (on Muyembe – Moroto road).

For more information contact: Hotline Corporate Communication Office: +256312 233 111, +256 414 318 111 Email:roadinfo@unra.go.ug | Website:http://www.unra.go.ug Unra Roads @UNRA_UG 44

May - June 2013

Commentary

Why think tanks are key to Uganda’s development

By Morrison Rwakakamba

F

ew months ago Uganda launched a 2040 Vision. The document is imaginative but weak on benchmark drivers to achieving an integrated first world economy by 2040. For example, the role of knowledge is not clearly articulated. Globally, Think Tanks are bedrocks of knowledge agenda. These Think Tanks are public policy research analysis and engagement organizations. They generate policy oriented research, analysis and advice on domestic and international issues, which enable policymakers and the public to make informed decisions on public policy issues.

Such Think Tanks may be affiliated or independent institutions and are structured as permanent bodies, not ad hoc commissions. These institutions often act as a bridge between the academic and policymaking communities and between states and civil society.

James McGann (2012) argues that the potential of Think Tanks to support and sustain democratic governments and civil society is far from exhausted. Today policymakers and civil society throughout the developed and the developing world face the common problem of bringing expert knowledge to bear on government decision-making.

The challenge is to harness the vast reservoir of knowledge, information and associational energy that exist in public policy research organizations in every region of the world for public good. McGann makes an important point because knowledge is increasingly an international commodity. Indeed learning and knowledge are the key ingredients that move the process of transformation.

Recently, key ideas that shaped the 2012 presidential election campaigns in the United States were cooked in

strategy rooms of major Think Tanks like Brookings Institution and Center for American Progress. In Uganda, we seem to be playing a catch-up game. The 2012 Global Go-To Think Tank Index shows that progress is happening in Uganda. For example, the Economic Policy Research Center (EPRC) was ranked the best Think tank in Uganda, followed by Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment (ACODE), and Makerere Institute of Social Research (MISR) respectively. ACODE was further ranked 25th among the top 50 Think Tanks in Africa. MISR was ranked 37th among the top 50 Think Tanks in Africa. And out of the 75 Think Tanks with the Best Advocacy Campaign, ACODE was ranked 38th and MISR 69th.

ACODE was also ranked 17 th globally among the top Think Tanks with the Best Policy Report Produced during 2011-2012. Perhaps, what we need to interrogate is whether government institutions and the wider public are piggybacking information and knowledge from these think tanks to strengthen public policy and service delivery in Uganda.

Quite often, these think tanks face a dilemma of demonstrating ability for brutal independence. In many countries, phantom Think Tanks are mushrooming, where governments create think tanks that are designed to appear as NGOs but are in fact arms of the government. Likewise, opposition parties, corporations and individuals have established think tanks to promote their special and particularistic interests. This trend raises concerns about a lack of transparency and private interest masquerading as public interest. Are Think Tanks in Uganda ready to overcome this temptation?

The other challenge for Think Tanks is to produce timely and accessible policy-oriented research that effectively engages policymakers, the press and the public on the critical issues facing a country. Gone are the days when a think tank could operate with the motto “research it, write it and they will find it.” Today, think tanks must be lean, mean, policy machines.

The Economist described “good think tanks” as those organizations that are able to combine “intellectual depth, political influence, and flair for publicity, comfortable surroundings, and a streak of eccentricity.”

Uganda- we still have a lot to learn along this transformation journey.

The writer is Chief Executive Officer of Agency for Transformation mrwakakamba@gmail.com

May - June 2013

45

Commentary

We need cautious adoption of GMOs

By Dr Majwala Meaud Major

T

echnology in case of agriculture can be regarded as a factor of production that uses advanced knowledge in science to make complex farming systems possible, quicker and more productive.

With practical assessment of the socio-economic effects of biotechnology, it’s difficult to generalize about its advancement because each situation where it is employed is different.

However, its overwhelming social features are Change and Integration. With regard to change, farmers who are the principal stakeholders, must change their mindset, methodologies and strategic interests to adopt biotechnology.

Biotechnology is moving so fast that it is creating problems before African farmers are able to develop solutions.

One interesting example is the introduction of an improved wheat seed in Kyela District in southern Tanzania.

Within one village, the new seed was sown by 10 farmers, but they abandoned it after three seasons even after admitting that its yields were considerably higher. Such action appears incomprehensible, but an observer who lived in the village found out that the decision was a result of rational calculation. The improved seed was genetically modified and the harvest could not be replanted. Instead a farmer had to buy another package of seeds for replanting every season, which the farmers said was the opposite of what they were used to. The wheat crop needed a lot of care and constant costly supervision, use of specific fertilizers and pesticides which proved very expensive. They claimed it retarded soil fertility after only two bumper harvests. The farmers said the wheat grains were too big to be grained locally with their traditional equipment. They also complained that the dough appeared harder to bake, while the straw was not suitable for fodder and could not even burn.

This deprived the farmers of certain additional uses of the older wheat straw. And finally, the bread was reported to be less tasty compared to their traditional organic wheat.

46

May - June 2013

Dr Tom Vilsack, a senior researcher in GM Seeds who coordinates Monsanto trials in Eastern Africa admits that “the seeds lack the nutritional codes usually found in natural organic seeds though these gene-altered seeds are now an important item to tame climate change and to enhance agricultural productivity for food security purposes and poverty eradication.”

Stuart Mayombe, an agricultural officer in the area, admitted the adoption of genetically modified seeds is eroding the pro-poor but sustainable farming practices such as the use of Low-External Input Technology, organic agriculture, agro-forestry and farmers’ full participation in choosing the appropriate practical technology through their communitybased structures that nurture effective use of land resources and enhance environmental resilience. African farmers and agricultural researchers are divided between embracing biotechnology and promoting organic farming.

The researchers on organic agriculture with sustainable farming systems appropriate for African poor farmers have set four goals for 2025 included in the FAO Agenda 2030.

The goals are: alleviating poverty among rural farmers; increasing food and nutritional security; intensification and commercialization of agriculture; and enhancing environmental resilience.

The Research and Development Strategy covers the diversification and intensification of land use, soil fertility replenishment, sustainable management of natural resources, biological diversity conservation and effective agricultural marketing.

On the other hand, biotechnology acknowledges that agriculture is bound to go for more high value-added products rather than high productivity products. Many researchers in this area are optimistic that biotechnology and sustainable agriculture can be complementary if we start from addressing the right agronomic problem, not from techniques that we must apply.

The only fear is that biotechnology reconstructs nature to provoke a risky future. Broadly, the risk debate is about whether the biotechnological project should be accepted as progress.

Culturally speaking, GMOs are genes out of place, an ominous ‘reconstruction of nature’.

There is therefore a need for a framework to regulate specifically GMO releases in line with socio-environmental ethics of African farmers in order to avert possible irreversible effects. It should be more than merely preventive. It should anticipate benefits, risks and hazards from GMOs before adopting them.

The writer is the President of Sustainable World Initiative-East Africa Email: majormeaud @gmail.com

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