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Why MPs want govt to enforce strict post-harvest measures

Mr Pascal Muhangi (blue jacket) joined by other members of the CSO fraternity to present before the Agriculture committee

What you need to know:

  • Like his colleagues on the same committee, Mr Emmanuel Otaala said “for us to be able to take advantage of the agricultural sector, we need to establish standards. If we don’t establish standards for everything that we are doing, then we cannot access the international market.”

Legislators on the agricultural committee of Parliament want government to enforce strict post-harvesting standards on all agricultural produce as a means of ensuring Uganda’s output penetrates deeper into the global market.

The committee argues that if the proposal is endorsed and adequately funded, the government will not only arrest food insecurity but also enable Uganda’s produce be competitive on the global stage.

The suggestion was made after activists through the Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group (CSBAG) highlighted the consequences suffered by Uganda’s agriculture sector due to poor post-harvest handling. Mr Pascal Muhangi, an economist at the CSBAG pointed to the losses suffered as highlighted data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
He was making submissions of the CSO fraternity on the 2024/25 National Budget Framework Paper (NBFP) that is currently being processed by the Parliament to shape the 2024/25 national budget.

“Losses are estimated at 30 percent of the generated yields on cereals, and 40-45 percent in roots in tubers and over 60 percent for fruits and vegetables,” Mr Muhangi told MPs, adding that “these losses are mainly due to poor storage and inadequate value addition and infrastructure such as electricity,” he said.


He also decried the increasing lapses by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries as reported in the 2022/23 report submitted to Parliament on Tuesday.
“In the AOG report, it was highlighted that, MAAIF had not established a baseline countrywide prevalence of aflatoxin contamination or set annual targets for reducing aflatoxin levels,” Mr Muhangi said.

In further reference to the Auditor General’s report he noted that “there was no regulation to enforce adherence to prescribed quality standards to produce value chains from farm to fork. This contributes to increased food insecurity that stands at 46 percent.”

As a result, he recommended that the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) be appropriately financed to strictly enforce tough post-harvest handling.
“Government to reform and increase funding for UNBS to enable it execute its duties in enforcing quality standards within the country, especially border surveillance since UNBS is only stationed at 28 entry points as compared to 554 Uganda Revenue Authority entry at which UNBS should be present,” Mr Muhangi advised.

He also advised that the enforcement of proposed strict measures that are yet to be defined be done with help of extension workers in the agricultural sector.
Speaking in support of the proposal, the Buhweju West Mr Ephraim Biraaro Gashanga advised that strict supervision and clear guidelines be crafted for the plan to succeed.

Like his colleagues on the same committee, Mr Emmanuel Otaala said “for us to be able to take advantage of the agricultural sector, we need to establish standards. If we don’t establish standards for everything that we are doing, then we cannot access the international market.”
To justify his recommendation, Mr Otaala reasoned that the “Agriculture is the backbone of Uganda’s economy, we must capitalize on it because that is we [Uganda] have an edge over others.”