Four Core Challenges within Agriculture

Transcription

1 ACHIEVING AGRICULTURAL GROWTH IN UGANDA: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES Godfrey Bahiigwa Director, PMA Secretariat Buziga Country Resort May 7, 2008 Four Core Challenges within Agriculture 1. Boosting productivity and production Production organization (zones, farmers) Technology promotion Pest and disease control Water for production 2. Adding value to agricultural products Primary processing (farm level) Agro-industrial development (PPP) Standards and quality control 3. Finding sustainable markets for products Domestic, regional and international markets 4. Maintaining consistency around agricultural policies and institutions Constant communication and dialogue among key players 1

2 Constraints outside Agriculture Transport infrastructure (road network, railway network) is weak Rural electricity both generation and supply network insufficient, yet key for agro-industries Rural financial services set-up and regulation of providers needs strengthening Sustainable natural resource use and management (climate is a change threat) Opportunities for Agricultural Development Many technologies are already available, simply need to be promoted among farmers NAADS has nation-wide presence to build upon and strengthen Market potential in neighboring countries (South Sudan, eastern DRC, EAC, etc) Food price increases for commodities that Uganda has a comparative advantage (maize, rice, etc) Committed political leadership around PFA => MAAIF should take advantage of this. 2

3 New approaches to agriculture development Moving from a policy framework (PEAP, PMA) to an agricultural development plan Agricultural zoning and enterprise selection to guide investments by LGs and farmers Agricultural value chain approach for strategic commodities, creating public-private partnerships Government willing to do more for farmers (need SMART interventions) Agricultural Sector Objectives Increase incomes of farming households Ensure household food and nutrition security Create on-farm and off-farm employment opportunities Promote value-addition to agricultural products Promote domestic and external trade in agricultural products 3

4 Agricultural Sector Strategies Raising factor (land, labor, capital) productivity in agriculture (crops, fisheries, livestock) Promoting production and storage of staple foods at household level Promoting investment in agro-processing industries through PPPs Promoting development of value chains for strategic commodities Exploring and developing market opportunities for agricultural products Public Investments by MAAIF Agricultural advisory services (NAADS), including setting up technology source sites supporting value chains Agricultural research and technology development (NARO) including market research Disease and pest control (reduce losses, basic food safety standards) Water for agricultural production (incl. conservation and irrigation) Basic storage and post-harvest technologies 4

5 Complimentary investments for agriculture Transport (roads, railway, water) infrastructure (MWC, LGs, private sector) Rural financial services (MFPED, private sector) Agro-processing and marketing (MTTI, MAAIF, UEPB, UIRI, private sector) Rural electrification (MEMD, private sector) Natural resource use and management (MWE, NEMA, NFA, private sector) Agricultural Sector Governance MAAIF must take charge of the sector, providing political and policy guidance from the center to local governments MAAIF must increase its presence in local governments and communities 5

6 Additional Government Actions Required Cross-sectoral coordination (OPM or President s Office?) Adequate sector financing (MFPED, MAAIF, development partners) Farmer and community mobilization (MAAIF, MGLSD, MPs, LGs) Monitoring and reporting (MAAIF) THANK YOU 6