'EAC States give a raw deal to farmers'

(L-R)Executive director of Uganda Law Society Samuel Olumo, Commissioner, Productive and Social service at  Ministry of East African community affairs Naboth Namanya  and Permanent secretary for Ministry of East African community affairs Edith Mwanje during a dialogue. Photo by Mary Kansiime.
           

Government institutions have been accused of failing farmers in East Africa.

The executive secretary, Kilimo Trust, Prof. Nuhu Hatibu said government institutions continue to exploit farmers, taking their produce on loans and pay them (farmers) late which greatly affects their operations.

Hatibu was presenting a paper on titled: 'Enhancing food security and Agricultural Value Chains in the Region' during a dialogue workshop for the private sector and civil society in Kampala yesterday.

"We have realized that many institutions go and get produce from farmers but fail to pay on time. This forces farmers to go for loans," he noted.

He also added that governments have failed to support their farmers to make right choices of crops which are needed on the market.

"Some produce low quantities as a result of their conventional methods used. Other fail to get markets for their produce and thus working in loses," Hatibu noted.

He observed the need to open up the regional markets for people to sell their produce across the border.

"If we have a regulation in place; we can look at the comparative advantage for each country. This will help us address the issues of food security, employment, nutrition and boost wealthy," he said.

He stressed that individual countries have not supported their farmers in skills development and how to penetrate the regional market.

He said Kilimo has embarked on a program to equip farmers with relevant tools on how to identify markets through a value chain. The Permanent Secretary to the EAC ministry, Edith Mwanje said they want to make sure that the regional market opens up for all countries.