NAADS Perfomance report as presented by the Minister for Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries

14/01/2020

Kampala, 14th January 2020. The performance report for the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) has been presented at the Uganda Media Center by Hon. Vincent Bamulangaki Ssempijja the Minister for Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries.

Below is an excerpt of the official statement containing details of the report.

The National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) has, since the refocusing of its mandate to supporting farmers with the provision of agricultural inputs for wealth Creation, focused on the following interventions of the Agricultural Sector:

  1. Management of agricultural input distribution chains;
  2. supporting strategic interventions for priority commodities under the commodity approach, including supporting the multiplication of planting and stocking materials;
  3. Agribusiness development and Value chain development focusing on the upper end of the chain

PROGRESS IN IMPLEMENTATION OF NAADS INTERVENTIONS

The NAADS Secretariat approved budget for the FY 2019/20 is UGX 145.894Bn. In the first half of the Financial Year, a substantial percentage of the budget has been spent on the various interventions for provision of agricultural inputs to farmers for season 2019B as well as offsetting outstanding balances on prior year commitments.

Highlights of half year Achievements (July – December, 2019)

In the first half of the Financial Year 2019/20, NAADS has focused on the following;

  1. Provision of improved planting materials for food security and strategic commodities
  2. Provision of Agro machinery to support farm mechanisation
  3. Provision of Value addition equipment for agro processing

Improved planting materials for food security and strategic commodities

Food security interventions;

  1. Maize: Procured and distributed 2,434.437 tons of maize seed to 125 DLGs as well as to constituencies through the Members of Parliament under the food security initiative for constituencies, for the establishment of 243,444 acres of Maize benefiting 121,722 households.
  2. Banana: Procured and distributed 632,187 Banana tissue Cultured planting materials to 57 DLGs, for the establishment of 1,405 acres of banana for 2,810 households.
  3. Irish Potatoes: Procured and distributed 4,080 Bags of seed potato to 25 DLGs for the establishment of 680 acres for 1360 households.

Strategic crop & livestock commodities

  1. Cashew nut: Procured and distributed 166,695 Cashew nut seedlings to 28 DLGs, for the establishment of 2,381acres for 238 households

The above interventions are aimed at increasing production and productivity of the various priority and strategic crop commodities for improved household food and income security; as well as export earnings in the case of the strategic crop commodities.

  1. Agro-machinery to support farm mechanisation

This intervention is aimed at increasing farm production and productivity for increased household food security and incomes through adoption of improved and efficient production technologies, enhancement of timeliness and profitability of farm operations and intensified farm production systems; as well as provision water for production to address adverse effects of climate. Specific progress during the reporting period is indicated below;

  1. Tractorization Programme
  • Since October 2019, conducted training for the 560 tractor operators across the country on proper operation & maintenance of the tractors. The last batch of operators is to be passed out on 7th February 2020 at Mukono Zonal Agricultural Research Development Institute and Mayuge Zonal Agricultural Research Development Institute.
  • Delivery & distribution of the 280 tractors for beneficiary groups in 119 DLGs is ongoing and expected to be completed by end of February 2020.
  • The total number of tractors procured by Government is 320.

ii) Provision of Value addition equipment for agro processing

This intervention aims to enhance agro processing for increased household incomes through provision of value addition equipment for reduction of post-harvest losses and improved shelf life of agricultural produce, increased profitability of agricultural enterprises and job creation and/or employment for rural and urban population especially the youth.

Fruit Processing Facilities

Yumbe Mango fruit processing factory

  •  Planned Capacity of the plant is 40MT per day
  • Processing equipment delivered to the site (pending installation & Commissioning).
  • Completion works for the factory in advanced stages
  • Factory expected to be commissioned in June 2020

Kayunga fruit processing Plant

  • Planned Capacity of the plant is 8 to 11 MT/day
  • Equipment delivered and installed. Pending power connection and commissioning
  • Commissioning expected in June 2020

Kapeeka multi-fruit processing plant in Nakaseke district

  • Planned capcity of the plant is 1 MT/Hr
  • Procurement process for supply & installation of the equipment is on-going

Nwoya Multi Fruit processing factory

  • Planned capcity of the plant is 12 MT/Hr
  • Procurement process for supply & installation of the equipment initiated

Pipeline Fruit processing Facilities

  • Feasibility studies are currently being undertaken for the construction of two (2) fruit processing facilities in Masaka and Busoga Region.

Maize Mills

  • 20 sets of maize milling equipment and 4 sets of feed milling equipment delivery is on-going

Notes for editors

About the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF)

The Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries is a Ministry in the Government of Uganda charged with creating an enabling environment in the Agricultural Sector.

The Ministry formulates, reviews and implement national policies, plans, strategies, regulations and standards and enforce laws, regulations and standards along the value chain of crops, livestock and fisheries.

Vision: A competitive, profitable and sustainable agricultural sector.

Mission: To transform subsistence farming to commercial agriculture.

Strategic Objectives

  • To initiate the formulation and review of the policy and legal framework for the sector
  • To establish and implement systems for service provision in the sector
  • To strengthen and implement strategies, regulatory framework, standards, institutional structures and infrastructure for quality assurance and increased quantities of agricultural products to access and sustain local, regional and export markets
  • To design and implement sustainable capacity building programmes for stakeholders in the agricultural sector through training, re-tooling, infrastructure, provision of logistics and ICT
  • To develop strategies for sustainable food security
  • To develop appropriate agricultural technologies for improved agricultural production, productivity and value addition through research
  • To develop effective collaborative mechanisms with affiliated institutions and
  • To take lead and establish a system and institutional framework for agricultural data collection, analyses, storage and dissemination to stakeholders including Uganda Bureau of Statistics.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) is made up of four Directorates including the Directorate of Crop Resources, Directorate of Animal Resources, Directorate of Agricultural Extension Services and the Directorate of Fisheries Resources each with Departments, Divisions and Partnership Projects.

The Departments of the Ministry which do not fall directly in the above include the Department of Agricultural Planning and Development, the Human Resource Department, the Department of Finance and Administration and the Department of Agricultural Infrastructure, Mechanisation and Water for Agricultural Production.

The Ministry is also made up of seven Agencies including the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO), the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS), Cotton Development Organisation (CDO), Dairy Development Authority (DDA), Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) and Coordinating Office for the Control of Trypanosomiasis in Uganda (COCTU) and the National Animal Genetic Resources Centre and Databank (NAGRC&DB).