INTRODUCTION
Ecological organic agriculture production systems can ensure and sustain local food security and sovereignty, ecosystem services for rural welfare and biodiversity conservation. It is acknowledged that small-scale farmers already produce 70%of the world’s food. Organic Agriculture contributes approximately USD 50m accounting for 17.1% of the value of agricultural exports which currently stand at USD 291.2m per annum ((MoFPED,2017/18). The global trading environment and demand for organic produce in Europe and the United States of America provides a clear impetus for stimulating Organic Agriculture in Uganda.
The unfolding market opportunities globally especially in the developed countries of Europe and North America, shifts in consumer preferences to safe and hazard-free organic food, increasing consciousness about conservation of the environment as well as health hazards associated with agrochemicals are some of the major factors for the growing interest in Organic Agriculture.
Uganda has a huge potential for producing food crops (including fruits), cash crops (including coffee, tea, and cotton), as well as organic livestock to meet the increasing global demand for Organic products. Uganda has the potential to put over 500,000 ha of land under Organic Agriculture and certify over 500,000 farmers once the sub-sector is better regulated and facilitated. This would see Uganda’s volume of organic produce increase from the current 115,062 Mt to210,000 Mt.
Background Information on Kulika Uganda
Kulika Uganda (ww.kulika.org) is an NGO implementing the EOAI Project Phase II ( i.e. Mainstreaming Ecological Organic Agriculture into Agriculture Systems in Africa) together with three other partners include Uganda Martyrs University(UMU), ESAFF Uganda and Pelum Uganda. Kulika’s Vision is to promote enhanced livelihoods. Kulika’s Mission is to provide relevant skills and technologies to empower rural communities.
The EOAI Project (Ecological Organic Agriculture Initiative Project) is supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and is headed by Bio vision Africa Trust (BVAT) an NGO based in Kenya. The project has four partners and is coordinated by Pelum Uganda.
The overall goal of the initiative is to contribute to mainstreaming Ecological Organic Agriculture into national agricultural production systems by 2025 and to improve agricultural productivity, food security, access to markets and sustainable development in Africa. The second phase of this project is being implemented in 4 districts, Wakiso, Luweero, Mukono and Masaka. The selected value chains include but are not limited to the following, Pineapples, watermelon, cabbages, tomatoes, coffee bananas, other fruits and vegetables, etc.
Kulika Uganda is responsible for implementing Objective 3and the respective activities of this EOA Project phase I in the period April 2019 – December 2020 is given below:
• Assess the business services required by the value chain actors and the status of BDS (Business Development Services) in the market. Through field visits, stakeholder meetings and other forms of dialogue, Information has been generated on the different services required by EOA farmers, the most outstanding services include access to sources and skills in making quality organic manures/manures, organic pesticides organic crop medicines. The other services required are linkage to organic crop buyers who can offer premium prices, pre-and post-harvest handling, processing and other value added services along the value chains
• Facilitate BDS providers to link value chain actors to services through contracted facilitators. A number of facilitators have been identified and engaged (including trainers, input suppliers, processors, agriculture product buyers, Local Government administration and technical teams to provide services to Value chain Actors (VCAs) for selected value chains
• Establish and facilitate access to product-market intelligence along the value chains. Information has been gathered and a database is being developed on locations, sites and centres for EOA production, bulking, processing and final selling destinations for selected value chains to aid better decision making among producers and other value chain actors. The current prices for different crop products by the different buyers are tracked from time to time and this is relayed to the farmers on demand.
• Supporting agriculture market-related services e.g. Market linkages, certification, value addition, and storage technologies. Kulika has supported a training of TOTs in Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) method of organic farmer certification and as a result of this 3 farmer-led Groups are being developed in Wakiso, Masaka and Luweero District.
• Promoting the use of PGS for local, regional and domestic markets by producers.
• Sensitization of farmers has been done in Luweero and Masaka Districts for smallholder farmers and other stakeholders on PGS and Kulika is continuing to give its support to the farmer’s groups in PGS
• Harmonize organic standards at regional levels. Information on different organic standards operational in Uganda for local, regional and international markets has been gathered and discussed with VCAs in various forums. The different VCAs are aware of the respective standards under which they can register for their products or services
• Establish new market channels and undertake product diversification through value addition. Existing buyers of organic products have been identified and these include Sulma Foods Limited, KK Fresh Produce Exporters Ltd, 60 Acres Ltd, and Buge Fruits Limited. Visits have been conducted and stakeholder meetings have been held with them. An MOU has been signed with Sulma Foods. limited which spells out how the Kulika Uganda and Sulma Foods are going to deepen their collaboration in relation to supporting smallholder organic farmers in production, marketing and value chain development for selected local regional and export markets, and others are will be developed with other buyers and market outlets
• Establish new market channels, create consumer awareness and undertake product diversification through value addition. Field visits and stakeholder meetings have been carried out to create awareness on the benefits of EOA and of producing and using organic products. Training has been provided to smallholder farmers, Tots and other VCAs in value addition at production/field and post-harvest levels for tomatoes, pineapples, sweet bananas, jack fruit, and other vegetables. Participants have gained skills in processing the above products into tomato sauce, chilli sauce, juice, wine, and dried vegetables respectively.
• Carry out consumer awareness campaigns. Kulika Uganda has worked with other stakeholders to conduct consumer awareness and media campaigns. Kulika was able to conduct eight radio talk shows on CBS88.8 FM and two TV talk shows on Bukedde TV to create consumer awareness on the need to eat organic food because it is healthier and more nutritious. In addition, different panellist’s sensitized farmers and the public on the benefits and key practices of EOA. Many people called after each show and are continuing to call and make comments or further guidance on techniques in organic production, products or inputs availability, value addition, or prices among other things
Achievements
In the selected districts of operation, the services required by the various Value Chain Actors (VCAs) have been identified and this process is continuing. VCAs are being linked to BDS providers.
Skills of some smallholder farmers and other stakeholders have been developed to produce, use and supply the much-needed bio-fertilizers, biopesticides, biomedicines, and to use the Key best practices in ecological Organic Agriculture to enhance the productivity of farms, yields, food security, and environmental conservation. Efforts have begun to support organic certification and to develop market systems for organic products and link organic producers to market outlets and buyers and at local, regional and international levels.
Consumer sensitization and awareness campaigns on the availability and benefits of organic production and organic foods are continuing to be conducted. Some market information has been identified and shared, services for agriculture value addition, processing, farm inspection, ICS and organic certification are being provided through multi-stakeholder engagements.
Lessons learnt
Providing relevant support in EOA production, value addition and marketing smallholder to smallholder farmers and communities can contribute to better food security, incomes, environmental and human health, as well as general livelihood improvement.
Multi-stakeholder action is very important for success in ecological organic agriculture (EOA) implementation and action.
Recommendations
The public, Value chain actors, and all Stakeholders are invited to liaise with Kulika Uganda to promote EOA and market-oriented production in order to contribute to better production, food and income security, environmental conservation, consumer safety and long-term livelihood improvement for smallholder farmers and communities.
