Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences

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Access and Use of Credit in Uganda: Unlocking the Dilemma of Financing Small Holder Farmers
(Economic Policy Research Centre (EPRC), 2012) Munyambonera, Ezra; Nampewo, Dorothy; Adong, Annet; Mayanja, Musa
This policy brief is about access and use of credit in Uganda by small holder farmers. The brief uses the secondary data to shed light on the extent of the problem and further uses successful case studies in agricultural financing to demonstrate how improvements can be achieved. The major problem established from available information is that despite several agricultural financing initiatives and other reforms in the financial sector in the last 20 years, access to credit by small holder farmers in Uganda has remained very low in the region of about 10 percent. Examining the several agricultural financing initiatives since 1990s tends to suggest that the problem could largely be attributed to weak institutional framework and policy inconsistency on agricultural financing over the years, notwithstanding household demand factors. The key policy recommendation drawn from this assessment is that if agricultural financing is to improve, there is need to have strong institutional framework that focuses on financing frameworks, monitoring and implementation. A better option is for government to support the establishment of a rural or agricultural development bank that prioritises agricultural financing.
Addressing Gender Gaps in the Ugandan Labor Market
(Economic Policy Research Centre, 2011) Kasirye, Ibrahim
Four out of every five women in Uganda are employed in agriculture, according to the 2008 Gender and Productivity Survey (GPS) in Uganda (EPRC, 2009); and 42 percent of women in the labour force are unpaid family workers—receiving no income despite contributing the largest proportion of the agricultural labour. Gender discrimination in the labour market is a pervasive economic problem in developing countries.1 Discrimination based on sex can take many forms in the labour market—from restricted access to certain sectors of employment—to differential pay by gender. As earlier noted, whereas 42 percent of women in Uganda are unpaid family workers, the corresponding rate for men is only 16 percent according to the 2008 GPS. Furthermore, the 2008 GPS shows that in the private sector, women in Uganda receive on average lower pay than men. Gender gaps in the labour market do not only lead to reduced incomes for women but also affects the status of women within society. Nevertheless, gender norms continue to dictate what a woman can and cannot do in Uganda and whether she can work outside her marital home. This environment has ensured that female exploitation in the labour market persists. As such, there is a need to address gender equity in labour market in Uganda—especially as the country attempts to attain the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Addressing threats to biodiversity and ecosystems services in agricultural landscapes: Lessons from tobacco growing areas of Middle North - Uganda
(NatureUganda, 2015) Opige, Michael; Bataamba Muhweezi, Alex; Kisakye, Jonathan; Dhakal, Balram
There is increasing pressure on ecosystems across Uganda, mainly from growing population. Uganda’s population was about 2 million in 1900, rising to 4.8 million in 1950 and to 24.3 million in 2002 (UBOS, 2002) and it is now estimated at over 37 million (New Vision, June 23, 2013). The management of ecosystems and landscapes in the context of this increasing population requires a lot of planning for resource use and conservation yet there are inadequate extension services to help increase agricultural production per unit area while ensuring a healthy resource base (FAO, 2010). In particular, the northern region of Uganda which suffered from a civil war from 1985/6 to 2007 is facing rapidly increasing population after the return of stability. This has not only resulted into significant destruction of natural resources or biomass but has also put pressure on remaining natural resources.
Analysis of long-term prices of micronutrient-dense and starchy staple foods in developing countries
(Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 2022-10) Alioma, Richard; Zeller, Manfred; Ling, Yee Khor
Abstract The continued price increase in food commodities has long been a concern to academia and policymakers because of its substantial impact on poor consumers. Existing literature has concentrated on the cost of micronutrient-dense and starchy staple foods and the price rise in different commodities. Yet, the long-term price growth of micronutrient-dense and starchy staple foods and the price growth gap between micronutrient-dense foods and starchy staple foods have not been given much attention. The paper aimed to estimate the long-term trends in prices and volatility of micronutrient-dense and starchy staples and identify factors that have sustained the growth in prices of food commodities in developing countries. We have used the autoregressive and panel autoregressive distributed lag models to analyse the trends in relative prices and the effects of income growth. The results showed that micronutrient-dense food prices in real terms grew on average by 0.03% per month more than starchy staple food prices, with the expectation of a 12% growth gap in the next 30 years. The volatility of micronutrient-dense food items exceeds starchy staple foods in most domestic markets. Also, the prices of micronutrient-dense foods were more volatile in international markets than in most developing countries. Income growth in developing countries was one of the factors that contributed to the declining relative price of micronutrient-dense food commodities. Other factors, such as the high production of staple foods and their price stabilization policies, may have caused price trends to persist. Policies that enhance price stabilization for micronutrient-dense foods, supplementation, fortification, dietary diversity, and nutrition-sensitive interventions such as biofortification may be adopted in developing countries.
Analysis of oil palm projects in Uganda – impacts and implications for future development
(Ecological Trends Alliance Texts, 2019) Mwima, P.; Opige, M.O.; Ssemmanda, R.
Different players and stakeholders have sometimes opposing views on the impacts of the palm oil industry that began in Kalangala district in 2002, currently being expanded to Buvuma. However, they have yet to agree on a comprehensive, inclusive and integrated approach and that should be applied prior to further oil palm development to strike a balance in addressing the clear social and environmental issues.
Animal Genetic Resources in the IGAD Region: Regional Policy Brief on Policy and Legal Issues
(The IGAD Center for Pastoral Areas and Livestock Development (ICPALD), 2019) The IGAD Center for Pastoral Areas and Livestock Development (ICPALD)
The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) is a regional economic community in the horn of Africa. Its member state comprises Uganda, Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Djibouti stretching over an area of 5.2 million km². IGAD has three priority areas of focus namely a) food security and environmental protection; (b) economic cooperation, regional integration and social development; and (c) peace, security and humanitarian affairs.
Are Agricultural Sector Institutions in Uganda Complying or Flaunting the Public Financial Management Laws and Regulations?
(Budget Monitoring and Accountability Unit, 2019) Budget Monitoring and Accountability Unit
Public Financial Management (PFM) refers to the set of laws, rules, systems and processes used by Governments to mobilize revenue, allocate public funds, undertake public spending, account for funds and audit results. Sound PFM ensures aggregate fiscal discipline; efficient allocation of public resources to agreed strategic priorities; accountability and value for money; and effective delivery of public services (Lawson, 2015; World Bank, 2005). The Government of Uganda has prioritized implementation of PFM reforms since the 1980s to achieve three key outcomes: fiscal discipline, strategic resource allocation, and efficiency in service delivery. Among the prominent recent reforms are: enactment of the PFM Act (2015), automation of financial management systems, Treasury Single Account (TSA), decentralization of payroll and pension management, Programme Based Budgeting, plus budget and public procurement reforms.This policy brief analyses the extent to which the agriculture sector institutions comply with the PFM Act (2015); the Budget Call Circulars (BCCs) and Budget Execution Circulars (BECs) issued by the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MFPED). Analysis is for the period FY 2015/16 – 2018/19 using primary and secondary data collected by the Budget Monitoring and Accountability Unit (BMAU).
Are Ugandan Farmers Using the Right Quality Inorganic Fertilizers?
(Economic Policy Research Centre (EPRC), 2015) Mbowa, Swaibu; Luswata, Kizza Charles; Bulegeya, Komayombi
This brief highlights the quality concerns of inorganic fertilizers on the Ugandan market. The findings reported are an excerpt from a study that analysed the quality of inorganic fertilizers on the Ugandan market1. The analysis was based on 170 samples (in 50 kg bags and small 1-2 kg packs) of the commonly used fertilizers on the Ugandan market i.e. urea, NPK, DAP and CAN were purchased and subjected to a laboratory analysis. Procedures followed in the purchasing of fertilizer samples mimicked a farmer purchasing fertilizers randomly from any input dealer country wide. Analytical results from the fertilizer samples revealed low quality fertilizers with moisture content above acceptable limits of 0.5-1.5 percent; and untruthfulness in both weight and nutrient content. In some instances, the nutrient content quoted on the labels did not match with the analytical content. This has serious consequences because fertilizer recommendations are based on the nutrient content. If the nutrients are not of the right quality, then the end-user (a farmer) will not attain the intended crop response to fertilizer application. The study findings reveal that re-packaging fertiliser into smaller quantities is justifiable to meet the requirements of smallholder farmers, but leads to loss of nutrients (especially nitrogen); and also aggravates the high moisture content problem. Results reveal gaps in the current regulatory system; therefore there is an urgent need for government to approve and operationalize the fertilizer policy, regulations and strategy.
An assessment of land deals undertaken by the National Oil Palm Project in Kalangala and Buvuma districts
(Ecological Trends Alliance, 2019) Kakungula-Mayambala, R.; Tibugwisa, D.N.
Land as a key resource requires utmost attention to avert conflicts, especially with large agrarian projects like oil palm development. Gaps in implementing policy and Free Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) in the oil palm establishment and expansion are resulting in unprecedented land issues.
An assessment of the impacts of oil palm in Kalangala and Buvuma
(Ecological Trends Alliance Texts, 2019) Ssemmanda, Richard; Opige, Michael
The Government of Uganda had the best intentions when oil palm was established. The aim was to reduce poverty among the Lake Victoria island populations of Kalangala and Buvuma districts, and contribute to import substitution through domestic production of palm oil. The project established plantations in Kalangala in 2002 with crude palm oil production starting in 2010, and plantations will begin to be established in Buvuma from 2019. The benefits are readily reported by the main donor IFAD and the sole company BIDCO, part of Oil Palm Uganda Ltd. partly owned by Wilmar. However, the project implementation strategy fell short on a number of aspects, leading to multiple negative impacts on the intended project beneficiaries as well as on the environment. It is thus crucial to acknowledge and better understand these impacts, mitigate them, and prevent their reoccurrence in the other suggested oil palm expansion hubs. This section summarizes detailed interdisciplinary research undertaken in 2017 and 2018 (Ssemmanda and Opige 2018, 2019) on the negative impacts of oil palm development, and makes solid recommendation to the government and its implementing partners, based on the findings and lessons learned. The five research papers that this is based on are included in full in the following sections, and are each summarized in separate policy briefs (Bigirwa et al., 2019; Kakungula-Mayambala and Tibugwisa., 2019; Masiga et al., 2019; Mwima et al., 2019; Nangendo et al., 2019).
Bioengineered potato: Resistance to late blight disease and higher crop yields
(International Potato Center, 2019) Ghislain, Marc; Barekye, Alex
Average potato yields in sub-Saharan Africa are four times lower than those in industrialized nations, mostly due to the effects of diseases, particularly late blight. This research demonstrates that the transfer from wild potato relatives of three resistance-conferring genes into a cultivated potato variety provides complete resistance to late blight for several seasons. Initial findings suggest this resistance will be long lasting. Cultivation of this late blight resistant potato would increase family farm incomes by 40% and ensure the supply of fungicide-free potatoes to consumers.
Certified Organic Export Production – Implications for Economic Welfare and Gender Equity amongst Smallholder Farmers in Tropical Africa
(UNCTAD, 2007) Bolwig, Simon; Gibbon, Peter; Odeke, Moses; Taylor, Alastair
Over the last fifteen years the market for certified organic agricultural products has grown from a very low base to reach 1.5-2.5% of total food sales both in North America and the EU, up to 5% in Denmark and Switzerland (Willer & Yussefi, 2006; Oberholtzer et al., 2005; CBI 2005; Financial Times, 2006). Global organic sales were estimated at US$ 33 billion in 2005, compared to US$ 23 billion in 2002 (Willer & Yussefi, 2007), representing an increase of 43% or about 14% per year. Most of this growth has been satisfied by increases in the area under certified organic production in North America and EU itself. Yet there has been also an increase in certified organic imports into both regions. In the case of the EU these mainly comprise cereals and oilseeds from temperate and semi-temperate countries, but they also include fruit and vegetables (from a much wider range of countries) and tropical beverages.
The challenges of the Private Sector Driven Veterinary Extension Services Delivery in the Dairy Sector in Uganda
(Economic Policy Research Centre (EPRC), 2012) Mbowa, Swaibu; Shinyekwa, Isaac; Mayanja Lwanga, Musa
The privatization of veterinary extension services delivery in Uganda opened more opportunities for the private sector in the provision of extension services and supply of essential inputs demanded by a growing and more dynamic dairy sector. Consequently, the number of agents profoundly increased – and the markets became flooded with new and untested inputs (from the unregulated private sector). One big setback emerging – relates to the growing efficacy doubts and negative experiences (including losing money or animals) associated with use of inputs on the market, contributing to non-adoption of essential inputs. Selective adoption of essential inputs in dairy farming is also wide spread. The way forward requires impartation of proper and recommended skills in livestock husbandry practices. This will entail building new information dissemination networks by strengthening the capacity to channel veterinary extension support services via farmer groups centred information delivery institutions (co-operatives) - where dairy farmers can easily pick demonstrated evidence on the efficacy of the inputs available on the market from trusted fellow farmers.
Climate change, food and nutrition policies in Uganda: Are they gender- and nutrition-sensitive
(International Food Policy Research Institute, 2020) Bamanyaki, Patricia A.
According to the 2018 Global Hunger Index (GHI), hunger among Uganda’s population has risen, evidenced by a score of 31.2 compared to a score of 26.4 in 2016. Despite being acclaimed as the “regional food basket” for East Africa, Uganda’s GHI score is higher than its immediate neighbors’ (Kenya, 23.3; Tanzania, 29.5; and Rwanda, 28.7) and the sub-Saharan Africa regional average of 29.4 (GHI 2018). Whereas improvements have been registered in child nutrition and mortality indicators over the years from 2012 to 2017 (prevalence of stunting reduced from 34 to 29 percent; wasting from 5 to 4 percent; and under- five mortality from 8 to 5 percent), the proportion of the population that is undernourished grew from 31 percent during the period 2009–2010 to 41 percent during the period 2015–2017 (GHI 2018). Obesity among adults aged 18 years and above also rose from 5.8 percent in 2012 to 7.1 percent in 2016.
Climate-Smart Agriculture in Uganda
(Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN), 2017) Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN)
The effects of climate change on agriculture are severe, and one of the most significant emerging challenges to household livelihoods in Africa. As such, it is imperative that efforts to address agriculture in the context of food security and rural development take climate change into consideration. Climate-smart Agriculture (CSA) is defined as agricultural practices that sustainably increase productivity and system resilience, while reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. It is not a single specific agricultural technology or practice that can be universally applied; it is a combination of policy, technology, and finance options that involves the direct incorporation of climate change adaptation and mitigation into agricultural development planning and implementation (FAO, 2010). Uganda holds great potential for CSA, but this needs to be further explored. Although the country has traditional agricultural practices as well as research-based programmes and techniques that have CSA qualities, CSA promotion requires concerted action from multiple actors to allow for context-specific approaches.
Coffee Production a Golden Opportunity for Rural Youth Employment
(Economic Policy Research Centre, 2013) Mbowa, Swaibu; Ahaibwe, Gemma; Mayanja, Musa Lwanga
This brief provides evidence on the status-quo in the coffee value chain and reveals that over 68 percent of profit margins along the international raw coffee value chain are retained at the farm level – and therefore opportunities for youth employment in the coffee value chain lies at the production level. Nevertheless the challenge remains the limited ability for the youth to actively participate in the primary coffee production. The upstream coffee production is a domain of households headed by the persons in the prime aged 31 years and above, seemingly with secure access to land - a key prerequisite given that coffee is a perennial crop. Therefore the concept of a new generation of young coffee farmers becomes more distant if issues regarding to access to land are not addressed.
Coffee Production in mid-Northern Uganda: Prospects and Challenges
(Economic Policy Research Centre (EPRC), 2014) Mbowa, Swaibu; Odokonyero, Tonny; Munyambonera, Ezra
At the beginning of the 21st Century, the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) introduced coffee in the mid-North sub region. This marked the beginning of the sub-region’s transition from dependency on annual crops such as cotton to a perennial crop. While the long-term objective of UCDA was to find ways of sustaining the coffee sector amidst the coffee wilt disease in the traditional coffee growing regions, the opening up of coffee growing opportunities to enhance the incomes of agricultural households in a former war-ravaged Mid-North was a well-conceived strategy. Several studies have demonstrated that coffee sector remains key in Uganda’s poverty reductions efforts as well as pointing to the limited poverty reduction effects among those households who depended mainly on annual crops such as cotton. This policy brief draws from the research paper by Mbowa et al. (2014)1 focusing mainly on the prospects and challenges of the coffee sector in the mid-North of Uganda. There is growing evidence in the sub-region that the systematic coffee planting by the UCDA has yielded positive results in the subregion. On average, there are 16,000 farmers with 10,045 hectares of coffee, and in 2013 coffee output was 154 metric tons and projected to increase to 16,323 metric tons by 2017 with start of harvesting of new planted trees. Apac, Lira, Nwoya and Oyam are among the districts with the highest potential for coffee production. Despite the faster adoption of coffee in the sub-region, there are challenges that need to be addressed if the UCDA’s objectives are to be realized. The major challenges relate to lack of organized marketing and processing infrastructure to support value addition; and inadequate coffee specialized extension support system to narrow the knowledge gap about recommended agronomic practices among farmers.
Constraints to Agricultural Technology Adoption in Uganda: Evidence from the 2005/06-2009/10 Uganda National Panel Survey
(Economic Policy Research Centre (EPRC), 2013) Kasirye, Ibrahim
The study examines the determinants of improved agricultural technologies adoption in Uganda, using a nationally representative panel data set of 1,600 farming households, collected by the Ugandan Bureau of Statistics in 2005/6 and 2009/10. Two agricultural technologies— improved seeds and fertilizer—out of the seven types identified by the study were further considered and analyzed. Estimates from the probit regression model show that farmers with low education and land holdings are less likely to adopt improved seeds and fertilizer, while peer effects play a big role in influencing farmers to either use improved seeds or fertilizer. Furthermore, cattle keeping farmers in Western Uganda are more likely to abandon fertilizers and possibly resort to organic manure from livestock excreta. Policy, therefore, should be directed at addressing the supply side constraints of agricultural technologies.
The Constraints to Irish Potato Value Chain Financing in Uganda
(Economic Policy Research Centre, 2016) Mwesigye, Francis; Mbowa, Swaibu
This brief summarises the findings from the potato Value chain study on what constrains the financing of potato value chain activities in Kigezi sub-region1. Access to affordable finance remains a challenge to potato producers, input dealers, marketers and processors in Uganda. The key constraints to accessing credit from formal financial institutions are long loan application processes and collateral requirements. On the other hand, undercapitalization and high interest rates limit the capacity of informal credit sources to satisfy credit demands of the value chain actors. The value chain study results show that a majority of value chain actors rely on personal savings and small loans from informal credit sources. Most potato traders, and small-scale processors obtain loans from village savings and loan associations (VSLAs). Only 17% of potato producers, and less than 30% of agro-input dealers use formal sources of finance from commercial banks despite the low interest rates charged relative to the informal VSLAs. The consequences of limited financing of value chain actors are low productivity and technology adoptionat farm level which affect the business growth in potato trading and processing. Therefore to unlock and deepen agricultural financing, formal financial institutions can leverage on both capitalization capacity and the relatively low interest rates to design credit packages for agricultural value chain actors with shorter loan application processes. In addition, formal knowledge on the status on financing of marketing and processing value chain activities is scanty. This brief pieces together information on sources of agricultural financing in a value chain framework using potato as a case study.
The Contribution of Livestock to the Economies of Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda and Sudan
(IGAD Center for Pastoral Areas & Livestock Development (ICPALD), 2013) IGAD Center for Pastoral Areas & Livestock Development (ICPALD)
Livestock specialists frequently argue that livestock production is underrepresented in the GDP estimates of African nations. With respect to Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia and Sudan – the countries covered in this review – this argument has been confirmed. From 2010 to 2012 IGAD undertook a reappraisal of the contribution of livestock to the national economies of these four IGAD member countries. The ‘headline’ result of this evaluation is summarized in Table 1. Using 2009 as a base year for comparison, the re-estimated value added to national GDP by livestock was, depending on the country in question, 19% to 150% higher than official estimates for that year, and the monetary value added by livestock ranged from a low of over half a billion US dollars in Uganda to over fourteen and a half billion US dollars in Sudan, totaling more than 23 billion US dollars for the four countries combined. This new regional estimate represented a 37% increase in value added over the combined official estimates in 2009 for the countries concerned. Clearly livestock are big business in East Africa – much bigger, in fact, than had been previously suspected.

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