Agriculture for total overhaul, funds doubled

The Agriculture sector is destined for a total overhaul and re-organisation, the Government announced on Wednesday.

To this effect, the finance minister designate Matia Kasaija increased the sector's budgetary allocation from sh343.46 b to sh823.42 ban increase of 65%.

The re-organisation of the sector will involve reforming land ownership and use, farmer training, input delivery, extension service provision, irrigation financing and marketing.

"These reforms are absolutely necessary if we are to ultimately commercialise agriculture," the minister stressed.

Other interventions will include facilitating mechanization, efficient access to inputs and appropriate technologies, increased storage and market access.

Government will also implement the provision of improved breeding and planting materials, and pesticides, intensification of regulation through increased disease surveillance, improved disease diagnostics and enforcement of animal laws and regulations at both central and local government levels.

Conducting agricultural research and development, financing post-harvest handling facilities for commodity storage through the Agricultural Credit Facility and the establishing an Agriculture Insurance Scheme to reduce farm risks and attract investment in agriculture will be devised.

According to the minister, the medium term goals in Agriculture aim to ultimately increase production and productivity, improve household food security, increase farmers' income and increase the value of exports.

Coffee production is targeted to rise from 3.6 million bags today to 20 million bags by the year 2020, valued at approximately $ 2.4 billion.

Tea, 135,000 metric tonnes valued at approximately $ 190 million; rice 680,000 metric tonnes, valued at approximately $ 376 million; milk exports at $ 300 million and fish at $ 300 million.