Future of Uganda Oilseed subsector platform hangs in balance

The future of a key platform addressing issues in the oilseeds subsector in the country; the Uganda Oilseeds Subsector Platform (OSSUP) hangs in balance as a key funder pulls out their financial support.

OSSUP was established in 2007 by SNV Netherlands Development Organisation and the Makerere University Research Centre. The platform has since been funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) which is pulling out funding.

Robert Adwek, the Field Operations Manager at Mukwano Group urged farmers and other stakeholders to find a way of sustaining the operations when the funding from IFAD ends this year.

"Do we still need this platform? Yes, but how do we support it? We have created trust among ourselves. To maintain this trust, we have to be equal players; we need to sacrifice," he said at recent national multi-stakeholder platform meeting of OSSUP in Bugolobi, Kampala.

Mukwano, is an important buyer of sunflower from farmers in the north, which they use to make edible oil.

Dr. Anyanzo Thomas Abbey, the in-charge of OSSUP's West Nile regional hub explained to the members that the option of registering the platform as a company, but was also quick to point out the sticking issues that would come with such an arrangement.

"But if we register OSSUP, who will be the directors? Who will own it? How will it change the power relations? Right now, we are seated here as people of the same level. We need to think about this," he said.

OSSUP, which brings together farmers of groundnuts, soya, simsim (sesame) and sunflower, was formed to improve the coordination among the stakeholders in this subsector.