Agric ministry creates directorate to address risks

By Prossy Nandudu

The ministry of agriculture, animal industry and fisheries has set up a directorate dedicated to the delivery of extension services in the country.

The directorate will be headed by a director and assistant commissioners. Final discussions are ongoing to make it effective the new financial year, starting July 2015.

The move is to increase advisory services to farmers to help them, among other things, learn how to deal with various risks in agriculture when they occur, according to the state minister Vincent Ssempija.

A method of water preservation. PHOTO/Prossy Nandudu

Ssempija made the remarks during a risk management meeting organized by the New Partnerships for Arica's Development (NEPAD) and the Ministry of Agriculture animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), IFAD at Hotel Africana on Monday.

"When farmers face risks, they just resign, because of they fear to risk so, risk management practices should be sent to rural areas for mainly farmers and this can be done through a dedicated extension service system," said Ssempija.

Ssempija said the most common risks faced by farmers include effects of climate change through prolonged droughts; pests and diseases, and man-made risks such as supply of fake agro inputs to unsuspecting farmers among others.

The directorate will oversee the extension system up to the grass roots through what is commonly referred to a single spine modal.

"But this  time we want the recruits who are dedicated; it is no longer a question of getting a job and you think you are permanent and pensionable. People will be given targets which they must fulfill and when they fail they will be asked to quit," said Ssempija.

How different

Unlike in the past, extension workers will reach out to farmers and advise them on the best practices depending on the enterprises they are engaged in.

"Previously, farmers looked for service providers  meaning extension services were demand driven. Government is reverting back to older practices where extension staff used to visit farmers even before they were called," he explained.

Miriam Sow from NEPAD said that most African countries have not invested in agric risk management, an issue that is hindering production.

"When harvesting, too much rain creates humid conditions that favor the emergence of pests and diseases. Addressing risks along the value chain should be a priority among African governments," explained Miriam Sow.

Anton Jesus from the Platform from Agriculture Risk management (PARM) said the initiative is to support the process of identifying tools for managing risk in developing countries by empowering farmers to overcome the risks.

He said pests and diseases have been identified as major risks to agriculture production in developing countries which calls for more tools to help farmers manage them.