The Government of Uganda through the Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) has set strict conditions for horticulture exporters in a move aimed at cleaning up the sector
This was revealed by Pius Wakabi Kasajja, the Permanent Secretary, MAAIF during a meeting with horticulture exporters held at MAAIF headquarters in Entebbe today.
The meeting was intended at looking for a solution on how best the sector can be cleaned up to perform to the desirable levels.
Wakabi said the Ministry has set up strict measures that will help to realign the subsector, noting that nobody will be allowed to go into horticulture export business without a nucleus farm and out growers.
There will be inspectors moving day and night to inspect all the pack-houses in the country,” Wakabi said, adding that there will also be only one Apex body that will be responsible for overseeing all horticulture exporters in Uganda.
He added that there will also be frequent arrests and prosecution for those caught exporting substandard products.
“From today on wards I am committing much of my time to clean up this sector; we must be organized in the way we do business,” Wakabi said.
The exporters agreed with the PS on the measures put in place and requested MAAIF to sensitize them more on the new guidelines for better implementation.
