The PESCA Project
The Promoting Environmentally Sustainable Commercial Aquaculture (PESCA) project in Uganda is a co-funded project by the European Union under the 11th Development Fund (EDF) and the government of Uganda. This project aims at making a contribution towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) targets of the;
- Goal 2: End hunger, achieve food and nutrition security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture;
- Promotes progress towards Goal 1 – End Poverty in all its forms everywhere;
- Goal 8 – Take inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all, 13- Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
The project’s financing agreement was concluded on 13th January 2017 is a seven-year (7) project ending on 12th January 2024
The general objective of the project is to contribute to a competitive, job-intensive, environmentally-sustainable, and climate-resilient agriculture sector in Uganda.
Specific objective: to support the development of a competitive, job-intensive, and climate-resilient aquaculture value chain in a comprehensive manner
Purpose: to improve food and nutrition security, increase income and improve livelihoods, promote an environmentally sustainable, inclusive, and climate-resilient socio-economic development, focusing on a market-oriented aquaculture value chain targeting the national and regional markets, and focus on smallholder and smallholders’ associations.
The project has three result areas through which it is set out to achieve the set objectives:
Result 1: Developed policy and regulatory framework (including terms promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment, mitigating climate change/environmental impacts, and contributing to climate adaption) and effectively enforced.
Result 2: Enhanced Production and productivity of aquaculture fish and fish products, prioritizing locally produced environmentally sustainable practices and focusing on smallholder and rural livelihoods, and forming giving gender-responsive producer groups.
Result 3: Post-harvest losses are reduced and marketing opportunities for aquaculture fish and fish products are created.
The project is aligned to the National Development Plan II and the Agricultural Sector Strategic plan objectives thus;
- To increase production and productivity of agricultural commodities and enterprises;
- To improve access to markets and value addition and strengthen the quality of agricultural commodities;
The project under the enhancing of production and productivity result area, its implementing the following through grants and works contracts;
Lot 1: Formation of producer Organisations, Preparation of Best Management Practices (BMPs) and Extension Capacity Enhancement; this lot is focused on devising and supporting activities aimed at improving existing and supporting set up on viable aquaculture producer organisations (POs); and through these POs promoting the adoption of appropriate Best Management Practices (BMPs), enhancing access to more competent and reliable extension services and creating farmed fish marketing platforms including linkages
Lot 2: Establishing a One-stop-Shop for potential investors and undertaking a survey to update aquaculture database/data access systems; this is aimed at addressing the challenges within the value chain at a one-stop-shop
Lot 3: Upgrading the National Fish Feed output, Quality and Reliability; the action is aimed at increasing the output, access and availability and improve utilisation of industrially and on-farm produced quality fish feed in Uganda.
Lot 4: applied research and training in feed, seed and production systems with a commercial perspective; this action is aimed at; 1. Supporting pertinent applied research to solve sector related issues in feed, seed and production systems; 2. Upgrading the fish seed output, quality and reliability through assessing current local producers’ output, improvement of quality through selective breeding program; 3. Establish a suitable aquaculture research station as a training hub for out-growers
The development of two commercial aquaculture Parks (AquaParks) in Apac Tarogali and Mwena- Kalangala for Land and Water-based Aquaparks respectively; these aquaparks are aimed at addressing the food and nutrition security needs of millions of people in the country who will benefit from relatively inexpensive protein, while depleted capture fisheries are allowed to replenish.
In addition, the aquaculture industry, which accounts for over 50 percent of global fish production, is the fastest-growing food-producing sector. Its developing tremendously to become an economically significant industry for the community and the nationals.
Beneficiary Districts
The project is implementing the formation of producer organizations, development of Best Management Practices (BMPs) and Extension Capacity Enhancement in the following districts; Amuru, Apac, Gulu, Lira, Omoro, Oyam, Arua, Pakwach, Nebbi, Koboko, Budaka, Butaleja, Iganga, Napak, Moroto, Soroti, Mpigi, Lwengo, Kalangala, Masaka, Mukono, Wakiso, Ibanda, Bushenyi, Kabale, Kisoro, Mbarara, Mitooma, Rukungiri, Kanungu, Ntungamo, Hoima, Kasese, Kyegegwa, Busia and Luwero
The project is implementing the upgrading of fish feed output, quality and reliability in the following districts; Apac, Omoro, Oyam, Amuru, Arua, Pakwach, Nebbi, Koboko, Soroti, Budaka, Iganga, Masaka, Mpigi, Mukono, Luwero, Lwengo, Kalangala, Wakiso, Bushenyi, Mbarara, Kanungu, Rukungiri, Ntugamo, Kisoro, Kabale, Ibanda, Hoima and Kasese
The project is implementing the baseline study in the following districts; Amuria, Amuru, Apac, Arua, Budaka, Buikwe, Busia, Gulu, Hoima, Iganga, Jinja, Kaberamaido, Kalungu, Kamuli, Kasese, Kitgum, Kyegegwa, Lira, Luwero, Manafwa, Masaka, Masindi, Mayuge, Mbale, Mbarara, Mubende, Mukono, Nakapiripirit, Ngora, Ntungamo, Nwoya, Oyam, Rukungiri, Serere, Sironko, Soroti, Tororo, Wakiso and Kalangala.
The other beneficiary is Kajjansi Aquaculture Research Development Centre through support of the various activities including renovation of the existing facilities for research and training of the value chain actors.
The project is implementing the Aqua Parks in Apac and Mwena-Kalangala.
Video from launch of Uganda Aquaculture Cooperative.
PESCA Research and Training Component
Other projects
- National Oil Palm Project Uganda
- NUFLIP PHASE 1
- The UMFSNP project
- Banana Livelihood Diversification project
- Uganda-China Cooperation
- The ACDP project
- The VODP2
- The ENRP project
- The ATAAS project
- The PISD project
- The RPLRP project
- The MOBIP project
- The Goat Export Project
The Uganda Multi-sectoral Food Security and Nutrition Project (UMFSNP) is implemented, over a period of five years, by the Government of Uganda (GoU) through the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries (MAAIF) working in a multi-sectoral collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the Ministry of Education, Science Technology and Sports (MoESTS)
This project helps to support vulnerable communities in Western Uganda to better adapt to the effects of climate change (CC) through banana value addition activities, to provide greater opportunities for income generation, poverty reduction and food security
The Government of the Republic of Uganda and the Government of the People’s Republic of China have had a cordial relationship for a long time. China has made significant contributions to Uganda’s Agricultural sector development including provision of project aid to Uganda in form of interest-free loans and grants. Notable ones include the Kibimba and Doho rice schemes, Wakawaka Fish landing site, Kajjansi Aquaculture Training Centre, Hydropower Stations and Road Construction. Trade has included leather, coffee, fish and food products among others.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), with support from the World Bank is implementing the Agriculture Cluster Development Project (ACDP). The project arose from the need to implement the Ministry’s comprehensive plan to operationalize the Agriculture Sector Development Strategy and Investment Plan 2011/12 – 2014/15 (now Agriculture Sector Strategic Plan 2015/16 – 2019/20) and in line with the Uganda National Development Plan.
Uganda imports 60-70% of its edible and soap needs; Population growth and rising incomes continue to fuel an annual growth rate of 9% in domestic and regional demand for vegetable oil and its by-products. VODP 2 is Uganda’s strategic effort and increase domestic vegetable oil production, address rural poverty by involving smallholder farmers in oil crops production and improve the health of the population through increased vegetable oil intake.
The project is expected to increase production and productivity, mainly of small holder rice farmers, by focusing on those factors that currently limit production which include;
In 2010, the ATAAS project was developed as an investment in maintaining and raising the level of farmer productivity and household income through the development and adoption of modern farming technologies, techniques and strengthening market linkages. The project had key activities along the research-extension-farmer-market value chain continuum under five components: (1) Developing Agricultural Technologies and Strengthening the National Agricultural Research System (NARS); (2) Enhancing Partnerships between Agricultural Research, Advisory Services and other Stakeholders; (3) Strengthening the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS); (4) Supporting Agribusiness Services and Market Linkages; and (5) Program Management and Coordination.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries (MAAIF) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) agreed to execute a study for Irrigation Scheme Development referred to as The Project on Irrigation Scheme Development in Central and Eastern Uganda (PISD) through technical cooperation.
The focus was on establishment of medium and large scale irrigation scheme in Uganda targeting farmers cultivating mainly rice in lowland areas with season flooding and unreliable agricultural water source(s). The Study has was entrusted by JICA to the JICA Study Team consists of a consultant from Japan in collaboration with counterpart staffs from MAAIF and MWE. A total of 10 candidate sites districts were studied for irrigation development potential in the districts of Butambala, Buikwe, Kween, Sironko, Bukedea, Bulambuli, Mbale, Butaleja, Budaka and Soroti..
The Regional Pastoral Livelihoods Resilience Project (RPLRP) is a regional project financed by a USD 40 Million loan got by GOU from the World Bank and implemented by three IGAD member states: Uganda, Kenya and Ethiopia.
The RPLRP was prepared within the framework of the IGAD Drought Disaster Resilience and Sustainability Initiative (IDDRSI) and aligned with the Regional Programming Paper (RPP) and Country Programming Paper (CPPs).
Uganda Vision 20140 is a key strategy document for the government of Uganda (GOU) and aims to make Uganda a middle-income country by 2040. The National Development Plan II (NDP2) mentions the development of the livestock sector as one of these strategies, and in particular Uganda’s ability to produce some of the best beef in Africa.
Project Objectives
“To enhance the contribution of the goat industry to farmers’ income and welfare.”
Specific objectives
Avail improved indigenous and exotic (Savannah) goat germplasm to farmers in the project area which will serve as a springboard for establishing a pilot goat export zone in the country
To establish open nucleus breeding herds coupled with systematic cross breeding programme for generating meat goat types for fattening and
Improve the goat management systems and create sustainable supplies of quality goats for internal and export markets.