Activists call for government intervention over low grain prices
Kampala. Environmental activists have asked government to set up standard farm gate prices for grains as a way of motivating farmers to increase production.
Addressing journalists in Kampala on Monday, the activists warned that the current price of Shs350,000 for a tonne of maize in Kiboga and Nakaseke districts is a threat to the agricultural productivity.
Ms Christine Kaaya, a climate change advocate, attributed the low prices to lack of a plan for climate change adaptation.
“…one of the indicators for climate change resilience is to reduce on post-harvest losses at least by 5 per cent and above. Farmers managed to minimise post-harvest losses but we are surprised with the pricing, especially maize, which did well in Kiboga and Nakasseke,” Ms Kaaya said.
She said the projected price by March this year was Shs700 to Shs1,000 per kg of maize grain but it is at Shs250 to Shs300. “This is far below, making farmers to operate in losses because the minimum cost producing a kilogramme of maize is Shs400.”
The environmentalists urged government to establish better storage facilities at community level to help farmers improve their livelihood, arguing that existing facilities are inefficient.
