Organic farmers seek govt support
Jul 27, 2011
The Government should restructure the National Agriculture Advisory Services (NAADS) programme and allocate part of its funds to the organic farming sub-sector.
By Prossy Nandudu
The Government should restructure the National Agriculture Advisory Services (NAADS) programme and allocate part of its funds to the organic farming sub-sector.
Musa Muwanga, the National Organic Agricultural Movement of Uganda executive director, said this would enable them help more farmers meet the required international market standards.
Organic farmers do not use synthetic fertilisers and encourage the use of naturally-occurring chemicals or traditional remedies to control pests and diseases.
Muwanga said Uganda has only 200,000 certified organic farmers, who meet the international exporting standards.
“But these cannot satisfy the increasing demand for organic products from Uganda.
“If we get the money, we shall certify more organic farmers and raise the number to at least 100,000.
“This will enable us meet market demand besides increasing our earnings and that of the country,†he noted.
He was speaking at the 10th anniversary commemorating organic farming in Uganda at Kabalagala in Kampala on Saturday.
Officiating at the function, agriculture state minister Zerubaberi Nyiira said there was need to integrate organic farming in the NAADS programme to increase Uganda’s foreign exchange inflows.
Nyiira, a renowned food scientist and researcher, pointed out that including organic farming in NAADS would increase the number of agricultural-related businesses involved in value-addition. This, he said, would create more jobs for unemployed youth.
“We want to make sure that NAADS comes up with youth-friendly services for value-addition enterprises, which will earn them good money and encourage them to work hard,†said Nyiira.
He also promised to push for the establishment of storage facilities, especially for perishables, to help organic farmers export quality produce.
He observed that the majority of the youth and other intended beneficiaries did not appreciate the NAADS programme because they are not benefiting from it.
“We want to make sure that the programme is relevant and efficient in service delivery. We don’t want a programme that does not involve the intended beneficiaries in its activities,†Nyiira said.
He observed that the organic farming sub-sector would not expand until the Government sets up a component in NAADs to promote it.
Meanwhile, the minister said they were facing a challenge in ensuring that all seeds on the market were of quality and genuine.
“The challenge is to streamline production of improved and genuine seeds to eliminate fake seeds that look genuine,†he explained.
He added that many farmers were resorting to sub-standard seeds because when they buy seeds from stockists, they do not germinate.
The Government should restructure the National Agriculture Advisory Services (NAADS) programme and allocate part of its funds to the organic farming sub-sector.
Musa Muwanga, the National Organic Agricultural Movement of Uganda executive director, said this would enable them help more farmers meet the required international market standards.
Organic farmers do not use synthetic fertilisers and encourage the use of naturally-occurring chemicals or traditional remedies to control pests and diseases.
Muwanga said Uganda has only 200,000 certified organic farmers, who meet the international exporting standards.
“But these cannot satisfy the increasing demand for organic products from Uganda.
“If we get the money, we shall certify more organic farmers and raise the number to at least 100,000.
“This will enable us meet market demand besides increasing our earnings and that of the country,†he noted.
He was speaking at the 10th anniversary commemorating organic farming in Uganda at Kabalagala in Kampala on Saturday.
Officiating at the function, agriculture state minister Zerubaberi Nyiira said there was need to integrate organic farming in the NAADS programme to increase Uganda’s foreign exchange inflows.
Nyiira, a renowned food scientist and researcher, pointed out that including organic farming in NAADS would increase the number of agricultural-related businesses involved in value-addition. This, he said, would create more jobs for unemployed youth.
“We want to make sure that NAADS comes up with youth-friendly services for value-addition enterprises, which will earn them good money and encourage them to work hard,†said Nyiira.
He also promised to push for the establishment of storage facilities, especially for perishables, to help organic farmers export quality produce.
He observed that the majority of the youth and other intended beneficiaries did not appreciate the NAADS programme because they are not benefiting from it.
“We want to make sure that the programme is relevant and efficient in service delivery. We don’t want a programme that does not involve the intended beneficiaries in its activities,†Nyiira said.
He observed that the organic farming sub-sector would not expand until the Government sets up a component in NAADs to promote it.
Meanwhile, the minister said they were facing a challenge in ensuring that all seeds on the market were of quality and genuine.
“The challenge is to streamline production of improved and genuine seeds to eliminate fake seeds that look genuine,†he explained.
He added that many farmers were resorting to sub-standard seeds because when they buy seeds from stockists, they do not germinate.