Issued directive: President Yoweri Museveni.
President Yoweri Museveni has directed the Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja and Finance Minister Matia Kasaija to implement strategic interventions to boost large scale food production.
In a letter dated July 14, 2022, the President, in response to a July 13, 2022 letter authored by Frank Tumwebaze, the Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), noted that there is a need for deliberate interventions to boost food security.
“I totally agree and approve of your plan to assist Prisons, NEC, UPDF and big farmers in Northern Uganda and other areas to engage in large scale production,” the President said.
He also revealed that he has already directed “the whole government, starting with the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance, to implement this plan by providing agricultural machinery, seeds, fertilizers and equipment for irrigation.”
“Also prepare all the necessary anti-pests measures to protect these crops,” he directed.
The President’s directive follows a recent move by the Ministry of Agriculture to register large scale farmers across the country for proper planning.
In a letter dated July 6, 2022 to CAOs, Maj. Gen. David Kasura-Kyomukama, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries , says the government is coming up with a strategy to support medium to large scale farmers who will act as model farmers and off takers to support the intensive farmers under the Parish Development Model.
“These farmers will also be encouraged to produce on their land in order to avert food shortages in various localities,” the letter reads in part, adding that the farmers should have 50 acres of land and above.
It adds that the profile of the farmer should include: name, enterprise engaged in, land owned by the farmer, location (sub county, parish, and village), and support previously received (government or NGO) and the willingness to work with the government as lead farmers.
“The purpose of this letter, therefore, is to request you to compile the above information and submit to the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries before 30th July, 2022,” Kasura-Kyomukama wrote to all CAOs, adding that the information should be populated by the District Production Officers using the provided template and approved by CAOs before submission.
The Annual Agriculture Survey (AAS) 2018 by Uganda Bureau of Statistics says approximately 7.4 million households operate agricultural land and/or rear livestock. Of these, 80% engage in crop and livestock production both for own consumption and to generate income, while 9% of the households declare to engage in those activities only for own consumption.
