FAO launches Uganda country programming framework 2021-2025

AGRICULTURE | FARMING

Eliminating barriers for young people to engage in agriculture is an urgent priority that the ministry of agriculture has embarked on, Vincent Ssempijja the Minister of Agriculture Animal Husbandry and Fisheries (MAAIF) has said.

Ssempijja said this on Friday (November 13, 2020), during the launch of the process of developing the new Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Uganda Country Programing Framework (CPF) for 2021 - 2025.

"We need to develop the capacity of youth and interest them to participate along the agricultural value chains and even to understand and participate in offering solutions to challenges affecting agriculture," Ssempijja said in his speech read by the Permanent Secretary MAAIF, Pius Wakabi.

He explained that youth need to understand issues of climate change, application of science and technology and even to clearly understand issues of biotechnology and how they are useful to agricultural development.

"The government and the Ministry, in particular, are not resting regarding the matters of the youths," Ssempijja said.

The Ministry has since developed the National Agricultural Youth Strategy with support from FAO.

The strategy is being piloted and it is targeting youth along the agricultural value chains.

"Agriculture remains the mainstay of Uganda's economy and our efforts should be directed at promoting investments in the sector for increased incomes and employment, food security and wealth creation," Ssempijja said.

He commended FAO for promoting the agriculture sector growth especially in areas of poverty eradication, food and nutrition security, agriculture mechanisation, pests, vectors and disease control among others.

"All these contribute significantly to the overall objective of the Ministry agenda of agriculture transformation," Ssempijja said.

The agriculture sector employs about 80% of households according to the 2014 census and contributes to 26.2% to GDP and a base for the country's industrial output.

"Government continues to pursue the Agricultural sector-led growth. The participation of the private sector and the support and partnership of all stakeholders with FAO at the forefront in agriculture and agribusiness is critical in achieving the overall agriculture sector objective," he said.

Antonio Querido, FAO Country representative said the Country Programming Framework will align with the priorities of the government of Uganda, recognizing that Uganda's transition to middle-income status by 2040 is dependent on the transformation of the agriculture sector.

"Agriculture must not only become more efficient but also more resilient to climatic shocks and non-climatic stressors," Querido, said.

He highlighted that the agriculture sector in Uganda requires significant attention to address key gaps and challenges that include; low productivity, youth disengagement, forest loss and climate change, plant and livestock pests and diseases, soil loss and land degradation.

"Transforming the sector to realize the aspirations of the people of Uganda can happen only if we support the Government's strategic interventions and develop partnerships and collaboration with a diverse set of stakeholders all of whom have an important role to play," Querido, said.

He explained that transforming the sector requires support towards the government's strategic interventions and to develop partnerships and collaboration with a diverse set of stakeholders.

In the last five years, FAO has been partnering with national and local governments as well as a wide range of stakeholders to address the challenges of the agriculture sector in Uganda.

To implement its last country programme framework, FAO successfully mobilized over USD 70 million between 2015 and 2020.