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Uganda Supporting Structures and Lessons Learned; Case Studies for Organic Agricultural Development |
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Supporting structures: Research, education, extension
The main institutions for research and training are Makerere University and Uganda Martyrs University Nkozi. Research is being carried out in a number of areas, e.g. on the social implications of certified and non-certified organic agriculture through the Linking Farmers to Markets initiative spearheaded by the International Center of Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Makerere University, Kampala, and BOKU University, Austria. More research in this area is needed to show how organic agriculture benefits resource-poor households, especially in regard to women and children, and whether commercializing smallholder farmers really leads to a decrease in poverty, or whether the man of the household is the sole beneficiary of the extra income.
NOGAMU and its partner staff are involved in the provision of technical support to the farmers groups involved in production and processing. The farmers also are trained in production and processing of various products. This is to encourage members to increase the range of organic products to give consumers a wider choice. Organic processors are also supported in accessing packaging materials, which are usually imported from Kenya and sold to them at subsidized rates.
Besides NOGAMU there are a number of civil society organisations that provide extension and training for the empowerment of farmers, improved food security, environmental management, and mobilization of resources. Some of these are the Kulika Charitable Trust, Send a Cow Ltd, Africa 2000 Network, Sustainable Trainers Network, and Students Partnership Worldwide.
There also are a number of foreign partners who contribute to organic development in Uganda by offering consultancy services as well as funding and technical assistance.
Lessons learned:
Compared with other families, certified organic producers are more food secure and are able to sell their surplus produce.
The export market has been the main driving force for the organic agriculture movement.
Quality improvement is important for successful export of organic products.
Home delivery of organic products is a successful model for increasing local sales.
A regional standard facilitates regional trade since technical barriers are eliminated and common work can be done to have the standard accepted in international markets.
Inspection, training materials, and information efforts can be shared more easily if based on the same standards.
The development of the East African Organic Products Standard has been a successful model for elaborating standards in a participatory process with good cooperation between the private sector and governmental institutions.
Direct use of the EU regulation, the JAS and the NOP is a problem since some requirements are not suited to the situation in Uganda.
A strong national organization for the most important stakeholders (NOGAMU) is crucial for building strategies, lobbying, and participating in important development projects such as UgoCert, Uganda’s certifying body.
More efforts need to be made in building the supply base and addressing the constraints that limit the supply of organic products, as demand continue to outpace supply, if organic farming is to be exploited to its full potential in Uganda. (Author: Moses Kiggundu Muwanga)
(Adapted From IFOAM, Building Sustainable Organic Sectors)
Further reading on Early Organic Sector Development In Uganda:
Case Study Overview
Organic Agricultural and Social Conditions
Organic Market Development
Organization and Structure
Regulatory Framework
Policy
IFOAM is constantly updating the information on this website. Comments or suggestions contact the Platform Coordinator
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