This document summarizes key points from a presentation made by Dr. Joshua Zake on behalf of Civil Society Organizations at the 2018 Joint Agriculture Sector Review in Uganda. The presentation [1] commends the Ugandan government and development partners for achievements in strategic programs and policies promoting sustainable agriculture, collaboration with CSOs, and responses to agricultural threats. However, it also outlines [2] emerging issues regarding land use and soil health, agricultural inputs, pests and diseases, and farming systems. The presentation concludes by providing [3] practical recommendations to address each of the key issues.

1. Civil Society Organizations Keynote in respect to Agricultural
Productivity in Uganda.
By Dr. Joshua Zake (PhD), Executive Director-Environmental Alert.
Email: ed@envaleret.org or joszake@gmail.com
Websites: http://envalert.org/
http://enr-cso.org/
https://www.prolinnova.net/uganda
On behalf of the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) through representation by PELUM-
Uganda during the 2018 Joint Agriculture Sector Review, 28-29th August 2018 at Speke
Resort & Conference Centre Munyonyo.
Website for PELUM-Uganda: http://pelumuganda.org/

2. Outline of the Presentation
A) Introduction;
B) Appreciating Key GoU, Development Partners achievements for the FY 2017/18;
C) Key emerging issues and suggested recommendations moving forward.

3. We commend the outstanding Government deliverables during the FY 2017/18!!
a) Development of key strategic programs (such as National Adaptation Plan for Agriculture sector, Uganda Strategic
Investment plan Framework for Sustainable Land Management and the Uganda Climate Smart Agriculture 2015/2025),
which promote sustainable natural resource management including the that has a specific action on increasing agricultural
land by integrating agro forestry
b) MAAIF in partnership with other MDAs for developing minimum standards for a number of agricultural inputs seed,
fertilizer, veterinary, and feeds;
c) Recent nationwide crackdown on the unscrupulous traders in agricultural inputs;
d) GoU/MAAIF’s close collaboration with CSOs e.g. PELUM Uganda that promote agro ecology, an approach that utilizes
ecological principles in the design and management of farming systems to make them productive, resilient and sustainable;
e) Quick response mechanisms towards dealing with emerging pests, diseases and vectors outbreaks in the country. E.g. Fall
Army Worm and BBW in 112 districts, procuring 100 spray pumps for resistant tick cleansing program that were distributed to
south western region, launching a resistant tick cleansing exercise in Kiruhura district for three weeks among others

4. Key Emerging Issues and Recommendations in respect to Land use, Soil health and Soil Nutrition
Key Issue/s Practical recommendation
a) Soil fertility depletion through Nutrient
mining due to over harvesting without due
replenishment. Situation worsened by
inadequate investments for soil fertility
replenishment;
i) MAAIF and Partners should promote appropriate fertilizer use and application on-
farm to replenish soil fertility through integrated soil and nutrient management;
ii) MAAIF should consider recruitment of soil specialists at the levels of planning and
implementation;
iii) MAAIF should support District and Sub-counties to access and use soil test kits for
providing soil analyses services to farmers;
iv) CSOs and Networks should advance awareness on sustainable soil and nutrient
management at all scales.
b) Escalating land and soil degradation due to
poor land use practices. Situation is worsened
by weak implementation of the land use plans
at the local, community and landscape level
i) MAAIF in collaboration with the MLHUD, MWE and Local Governments should
advance implementation of land use plans at local and landscape levels.
ii) MAAIF through the Sub Sector of Crop Resources should fast-track updating of
the detailed surveys and mapping of the countries soils to facilitate better
management and planning.
c) Rapid conversion of arable land into other
land uses e.g. to brick laying to meet demands
for rapidly developing housing sector due to
urbanization.
i) MAAIF should advance the regulation of brick layering in collaboration with other
Local Governments, NEMA

5. Key Emerging Issues and Recommendations in respect to Agro-inputs
Key Issue/s Practical recommendation
a) Persistence practice of trading in substandard
and poor quality agricultural inputs, ineffective
inspection and surveillance of these inputs.
Situation is worsened by the absence of an input
institutionalized distribution system in the
country.
i) MAAIF should support establishment of a comprehensive input
distribution system in the country working along with the agricultural
extension system and the market development system.
ii) MAAIF should streamline the process of acquiring and distribution of
these inputs and emphasize strengthening sourcing of inputs within the
ecological zones and the distribution be depend on the recommendation
of the District Production Officers.
b) Weak institutional capacity of MAIF/Local
Government to regulate effective use of
agricultural inputs at all levels.
i) MAAIF should consider recruitment and facilitating more human
resource, possibly at the Zonal levels to strengthen and sustain inspection,
surveillance and enforcement of agricultural inputs distributed across the
country.
c) Exclusion of the farmer’s seeds in the legal
regime for seed certification, thus rendering the
farming system to entirely depend on external
seed supplies that may not be easily accessible
to smallholders
i) The MAAIF Top Policy Management should re-consider recognition of
the informal seed system (that dominates the seed sector with 80% of the
total seed supply) in the draft seed policy before it is approved.

6. Key Emerging Issues and Recommendations in respect to Pests, diseases and vector
Key Issue/s Practical recommendation
a) Climate change and variability has
proliferated the growth and productivity of
pests and disease thereby amplifying the
associated impacts on the human, crops
and livestock population;
i) MAAIF in collaboration with the Local Governments should re-introduce
routine vaccination and communal vector management coupled with massive
awareness creation to increase community vigilance against non-compliance
and promote high detection;
ii) MAAIF in collaboration with NARO should advance research in climate
resilient and pest/diseases resistant crop varieties;
iii) MAAIF and Partners should promote farmer’s access to the proven
improved crop varieties
b) Inadequate funding and establishment of
mechanisms for early detection and
response;
i) Government through MAAIF and Development Partners should allocates
more funds to a tune of UGX 20bn in the next financial year for advancing
surveillance, early response mechanism, including routine vaccination and
communal management procedures in order to safe guard the investment in
the sector across the sub sectors.
c) Private and individual management of
diseases and vectors among animals with
limited technical guidance and knowledge
which has caused rampant spread and
resistance.
ii) MAAIF in collaboration with the Local Government should advance
regulation of private operators in diseases and vector control.

7. Key Emerging Issues and Recommendations in respect to Farming systems
Key Issue/s Practical recommendation
a) Challenges in balancing agricultural
industrial development while safe guarding
and upholding principles of food safety,
soverenity, environmental and health
hazards control/regulation
i) Government through MAAIF and all other sector stakeholders should
adopt and promote agro ecological practices, farmer innovations which
have been established with proven ability to increase productivity.
Thus, Agro ecology farming systems have been proved to keep carbon in the
ground, support biodiversity, rebuild soils, and sustain yields.
ii) MAAIF should consider development of strategies to advance agro
ecology within farming systems.
b) Gender as a cross cutting issue. Different
gender categories (women, youth – boys &
girls, Men, Elderly, PwDs) have different
interests and needs
i) MAAIF, Partners and stakeholders should promoted targeted/responsive
interventions (practices, technology, innovations) to effectively address the
gender needs;
ii) MAAIF and Development Partners should advance strategies targeting
the most vulnerable communities e.g. those gravely affected by climate
change and variability.
This should be informed by vulnerability assessments.

8. Key reference:
CSOs position paper on Agricultural Productivity with issues and alternative
policy recommendations. PELUM-Uganda, Kampala.
Contributing CSOs:
PELUM-Uganda, Environmental Alert, Advocacy Coalition on Sustainable Agriculture; Central Archidiosan Province Caritas
Association; Caritas-Uganda; Community Integrated Development Initiative; Agency for Integrated Development; Prolinnova –
Uganda Country Platform; National Organic Agricultural Movement of Uganda; Uganda Organic Certification Limited,…
Acknowledgements:
• Financial contributions from Care International in Uganda through, ‘Strengthening Resilience and
Inclusive Governance,’ Program with financial support from DANIDA through Care Denmark.

9. Thank you for
Listening!!!