Agric budget up by 65%: Will the billions really materialise?

Jun 13, 2016

The allocation is now up to sh823.42b from sh479.96 billion for 2015/16

With the population of Uganda growing at an all-time high of 3.2%, there is indeed a need to feed everyone as the agricultural land also reduces.

As always, President Yoweri Museveni pointed out agriculture as a key focus in his speech on budget day.

Matia Kasaija, who read the budget right after the President's speech announced a 65% increase in the allocation to agriculture, compared to last year's.

The allocation is now up to sh823.42b from sh479.96 billion for 2015/16.

As Vision 2040 remains the "big target" for Uganda, what would the sh823.42b achieve in the agriculture sector?

From the expansion of input distribution under the new National Agricultural Advisory Services to multiple infrastructural improvements, we analyse the realities beyond the figures.

We also take a look at the progress of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme implementation and where Uganda stands amongst the African Countries that are signatories to the Maputo Declaration.

Value addition, industrialisation and the gaps in implementation are part of this in-depth analysis too.

In a debate where farmers meet experts, we also bring you the public view of "what the billions really mean" and whether Africa's pearl can really achieve the projected 5.5% growth rate in the next financial year.

Find all this and more in Harvest Money tomorrow.

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