Presented at Zonal investment Planning workshop on August 5th, 2015

1. Pamela Pali
MAAIF Investment Plan Meeting
5th August 2015
Central Inn, Entebbe

2. Policy Action for Sustainable Intensification
of Ugandan Cropping Systems (PASIC)
Implemented by:
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)
Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF)
Economic Policy Research Center (EPRC)
International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)
Duration: Oct 2013 – Dec 2017
Funded by:
Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Specific objective
To stimulate action in selected policies or programs, relevant for agricultural
intensification of smallholder production systems, through evidence-based
research and strengthening capacities of relevant institutions

3. Background
Output 1
Evidence on key constraints and
opportunities for intensification of two
cropping systems
gathered and communicated
Output 2
Zonal investment plans are prepared
and owned by key stakeholders
Output 3
Action initiated for the removal of
bottlenecks in national policies
relevant to agricultural intensification
Output 4
Capacity strengthened of MAAIF and
its partners to undertake evidence-
based policy action

4. Evidence on key constraints and
opportunities for intensification of two
cropping systems is gathered and
communicated:

5. Ugandan Smallholder Production
Characteristics from PASIC HH evidence
Message 1
Majority of rice and potato
farmers have ever used
improved seed but very few
were currently using
Message 2
Farmers are faced with
unregulated and unprotected
market structures - a
constraint beyond their
control.
Message 3
Use of fertility improvement
inputs is low among rice and
potato farmers, but input
application rates is lower
than recommended
application levels.

6. EvidenceMessage 4
Lack of access to good quality certified inputs ranging from desired improved seeds,
fertilizers and pesticides.
Message 5
Dis-adoption (discontinuation of technology use) is fairly high in rice and potatoes:
• 27% of rice farmers and 21% of potato farmers reported having dis-adopted
improved varieties in the past year while 18% of rice farmers and 11% of potato
farmers dis-adopted the use of fertilizers.
Message 6
• Dis adoption is caused by:
– Rice and potato farmers depend on family labour without enough liquidity or cash flow to
meet the costs of hired labour.
– Surveyed farmers lack required knowledge to apply the recommended agronomic practices,
ranging from seed selection, planting through harvesting, for enhanced productivity.
– farmers lack knowledge, skills and infrastructure for post-harvest handling and processing or
value addition of both crops. As a result, most farmers sell their product right on the farm gate
or in the nearby markets at far much lower prices.
– crop production and moreover intensification is capital intensive, and requires poor farmers to
smartly allocate meagre financial resources among competing household welfare needs in
addition to buying chemical inputs.

7. Opportunities for Dutch Investment
1. Fertilizers and Pesticides
Most farmers are willing to intensify but intensification is hampered by
unavailability and high prices.
• An efficient and affordable fertilizer delivery system. Repackaging fertilizer in smaller units of 1 kg, 2
kg, 5 kg and 10 kg
• A public-private arrangement can result in the establishment of infrastructure: screen houses,
hydroponics, aeroponics and multiplication sites
2. Mechanization storage and processing
Given the smallholder nature and land fragmentation issues of especially potato
production systems, agricultural transformation through large scale mechanization
is almost impossible
• investment in row planters for potato production in those hilly areas but may also suggest investment
in water harvesting technology so that women and children who must allocate most of their time
between agricultural, household and domestic activities can be somewhat leveraged and possibly
concentrate the remaining time on agricultural production.
• Investment is conducted in the construction of community dams to regulate water utilization in rice
fields and therefore extend the availability of water beyond the rain season.
• Investment in post-harvest handling technologies and processing is important.

8. Zonal Investment Plans (ZIP) are prepared
and owned by key stakeholders.
• Zonal Investment Plan strategy has been
developed by MAAIF team
• Creation of buy in at the zonal level.
• Determination of perceptions of factors that affect
intensification

9. Investment opportunities in the Plans
• Engage with the Ministry of Trade Industry and Cooperatives (MTIC),
the Ministry of Finance Planning and Economic Development (MFPED)
and the Ministry of Local Government (MLG) to create synergies and
opportunities.
• Ministries such as the MoFPED and MTIC view the Investment Plans
from an investment opportunity perspective to improve local,
national and international trade while engaging with the Ministry
of Local Government early in the process will ensure that the Zonal
Investment Plans are executed at the sub national level.
• ZIP should also engage further with the private sector (both national
and regional) at its development phase.

10. Zonal Investment Plans

11. Action initiated for the removal of
bottlenecks in national policies relevant to
agricultural intensification

12. Policy Action
Inception
workshop
(04/14)
Status of policies
relevant to
intensification
(05/14)
Technical
review NSP
(08/14)
Stakeholder
validation of the
NSP
(09/14)
Stakeholder
validation of NSS
(02/15)
Review of
regulations*
01/15
* Fertilizer control regulations 2014
Seed and plant regulations 2010
Pesticide registration and control regulations 2010
Pesticide application equipment & personal protection equipment regulations 2013
Stakeholder
validation of
PGRFA
(05/15)
CoLPA platform
establishment
(12/14)

13. Policy Action: Reflections from stakeholders…….

14. Policy Action
The Minister’s Commitment at the
June 25th National Agricultural
Policy Forum, Golf Course Hotel
Kampala
The major outcome from the
Forum -Minister pledged to
ensure that the process for
obtaining cabinet approval of the
pending policies, regulations and
strategies (i.e. seed and fertiliser)
progresses.

15. Capacity strengthened of MAAIF and its
partners to undertake evidence-based
policy action

16. Capacity Strengthening

17. Thank you for listening!
For any information please contact us at
pasic@cgiar.org
www.pasic.ug
Call us at
+256 414 285 060
Or visit our office hosted at the