High expectations from cluster project
Michael J. Ssali
Last Friday the Minister of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries, Mr Vincent Ssempijja, launched the Agriculture Cluster Development Project (ACDP) at Lukaya in Kalungu District.
More than 50 MPs and hundreds of farmers attended the function.
According to the project brief from the ministry, ACDP is a six-year-project, funded by the government of Uganda, the International Development Agency (IDA), and the World Bank, and its aim is to raise on-farm productivity, and marketable volumes of selected agricultural commodities in specified districts.
It is a pilot project to be carried out in 42 districts with a big production potential for maize, rice, beans, cassava and coffee. The project worth $248m is expected to substantially boost the country’s agricultural production since it will ease access to quality agro-inputs at farmer level and provide post-harvest facilities and equipment to farmer organisations.
An electronic voucher system installed by United Bank for Africa will stop supply of fake inputs.
Only a few agro input dealers have been authorised to supply the inputs and equipment and extension workers will be tasked to train farmers in agro-inputs usage.
The project also provides an agriculture insurance scheme for farmers to indemnify losses caused by drought, uncontrolled pests, hailstone damage, floods, malicious damage, earthquakes, fire and windstorms. Farmers will also get subsidy on inputs including post-harvest facilities at farmer organisation level. Masaka, Mpigi, Rakai and Kalungu, were clustered under maize and coffee. Iganga, Bugiri, Namutumba were earmarked for maize and rice. Pallisa, Tororo, and Butalejja were allocated rice and cassava. Kapchorwa, Bukwo, and Mbale will grow maize and Arabica coffee.
Soroti, Serere, and Kumi are earmarked for rice. Amuru, Nwoya will be growing rice, beans, and Robusta coffee. Apac, Kole, Oyam, Lira and Dokolo will grow rice, beans, cassava and Robusta coffee.
Kabarole, Kamwenge and Kasese will grow Robusta and Arabica coffee and maize. Kyenjojo, Kyegegwa, Mubende and Kibaale will grow maize, beans, and Robusta coffee. Masindi and Kiryandongo will prioritise maize, rice and Robusta coffee.
Ntungamo, Kabale, Bushenyi and Isingiro will produce beans and Robusta coffee. Nebbi, Arua, Maracha and Yumbe will concentrate on cassava and Arabica coffee.
