Wfp To Buy More Food From Uganda This Year

By Billy Rwothungeyo

The World Food Programme (WFP) intends to buy 45,000 metric tons of food from Uganda for over 300,000 people, mostly refugees and vulnerable groups and individuals in Karamoja.

In an interview with the New Vision, Lydia Wamala, the Communications Officer of WFP in Uganda says approximately 60,000 metric tons of food are needed this year.

“Of the 60,000 metric tons, WFP would like to buy as much of this food locally in Uganda if funding is available,” she says. “WFP is 100 percent voluntarily funded and our delivery of food assistance is based on available funding.”

Wamala though was quick to note that not all food can be produced and purchased in Uganda.

“Some commodities such as the specialized nutrition products for addressing malnutrition need to be imported. Also, WFP is careful not to over-purchase and disrupt the local market.”

One of the biggest commodities that WFP buys in Uganda is maize. In 2014, partly as a result of improved quality of grain in Uganda, as well as favorable prices, WFP bought 16,000 metric tons of grain worth nearly $6m.

The better the quality of grain and the more competitive the prices, the more it is able to buy food on the local/regional markets – from traders and small scale farmer groups.

WFP is particular to the quality of grain it buys, and offers quality enhancement support to farmers in terms of modern air-tight silos in Acholi, Teso, southwest and Busoga regions.

The UN agency is also working with other partners to assist households and targeted farmers.