Boosting agriculture: Show us the money

On Tuesday, the World Bank released a report, which called for increased funding to the agriculture sector and implementation of policies that will enhance institutional capacity to boost agricultural output and production.

The report, ‘Closing the potential performance divide in Ugandan agriculture’, which was launched by the Bank’s Country Manager, Ms Christina Malmberg Calvo, describes as “weak” the institutions that are charged with ensuring increased productivity, adding that government needs to get its priorities right if it is to achieve its desired targets.

It should be remembered that agriculture was prioritised in both the NRM manifesto for the period between 2016 and 2021 and also the National Development Plan II as the sector that would accelerate Uganda’s journey to middle income status. Ms Calvo is right that the fight against poverty and growth of the economy are very much pegged to the fortunes in the agriculture sector.

The World Bank figures suggest that the sector employs more than 60 per cent of the population, contributes more than 70 per cent of Uganda’s export earnings, provides incomes for at least 70 per cent of the population and provides most of the raw materials for our industries. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from agriculture has been averaging at Shs2842.99 billion since 2008.

Yet despite having been prioritised funding for the sector remains ridiculously low, which suggests either a failure or a refusal on the part of our leaders and planners to appreciate the sector’s importance.

Despite the fact that Uganda is a signatory to the Malabo Declaration on Accelerated Agricultural Growth And Transformation for Shared Prosperity And Improved Livelihoods in June 2014, in which countries committed themselves “to allocate at least 10 per cent of public expenditure to agriculture, and to ensure its efficiency and effectiveness”, funding to the sector has never reached the 7 per cent mark.

Last financial year, the sector received Shs865 billion, which came down to 3.8 per cent of the Budget. The agriculture sector’s budget framework paper for this financial year indicates that well as the need had been Shs1.6 trillion, the sector was allocated only Shs892 billion!

That is too little to spur growth by providing agricultural inputs, tools for mechanisation and expert knowledge on new farming trends and at the same time carry out research on how to deal with challenges like new diseases and drug resistant pests and weeds.

The sector can only serve as the vehicle that will deliver Uganda to middle income status if words are matched with funds. Heed the World Bank’s call. Show us the money.