M a r k e t N e w s

Organic Agriculture-Uganda's Future

Posted on : Thursday , 8th January 2015

Uganda must capitalise on its potential in organic agriculture; improve product quality and packaging to capture a larger share of the American export market.

Meg Jaquay, the vice-president of the American Chamber of Commerce, Uganda, told New Vision in an interview recently that increasing use of non-organic crops, coupled with low quality agricultural products and poor packaging are partly responsible for the country’s failure to fully benefit from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) initiative.

In May 2000, along with other African countries such as Kenya and Tanzania, Uganda sent over 6,500 products including agricultural animal products to enter the US tax and quota free. 

Despite being at the forefront of AGOA, Uganda has not benefited many, 15 years on. While commissioning the new Fine Spinners Textile Factory at Bugolobi, Kampala last month, President Yoweri Museveni observed: “We have not benefited from AGOA, but I am happy that other African countries are benefiting. I would be happier if Uganda benefited.”

While Kenya exported goods worth $389.5m (about sh1 trillion) to the US in 2012 and Tanzania $114m (about sh314.4b), Uganda only exported goods worth $34.5m (about sh95.1b).

In 2013, Uganda’s exports to the US were estimated at $47m (about sh129.6b), up from $34.8m (about sh95.7b) in 2003. US exports to Uganda, on the other hand, were $125m (about sh344.7b) during the year.

Business analysts said unlike Kenya or Tanzania, Uganda failed to establish an AGOA strategy to mobilise and guide those producing goods through the initiative. Kenya is an industrialised nation, while Uganda’s comparative advantage lies in agriculture, especially organics.

“Organic food is going to be the next big export for Uganda and farmers should not deviate from growing organic foods because that is where money lies,” Jaquay, a certified organic exporter who exports organic pineapple crisps to Uganda, said.

Organic agriculture is a production management system, which promotes and enhances agroecosystem health, including biodiversity and biological cycles. The system prohibits the use of synthetic inputs such as genetically modified seeds, fertilisers and pesticides.

It is estimated that Uganda has over 400,000 internationally certified organic farmers, growing cotton, coffee, sesame, as well as fruits such as pineapples, bananas, mangoes, jackfruit, apple, passion fruits and avocado. The products are exported to Europe, USA and Asia, among other countries.

By 2013, Uganda had around 350,000 hectares of land under organic farming covering more than 2% of agricultural land.

Jaquay said there is growing demand for organic products, adding that GMOs (which are created through Genetic Engineering (GE)) will also be expensive to farmers as they will have to buy seeds at every planting season because GMOs cannot regenerate.

This means that the technology will eliminate farmers’ indigenous seeds, making farmers dependent on multinational profit-driven companies for the supply of seeds.

Last week, civil society organisations meeting in Kampala requested the Government not to pass the Bio-safety and Biotechnology Bill, 2008 without farmers’ input as it would hurt the incomes of farmers.

The Bill, that is set to be tabled in Parliament next month, seeks to formalise the use of GMOs. If passed into law, the Bill will pave the way for the use of GMOs in the country. Uganda currently has field trials ongoing at Namulonge and Kawanda research institutes.

Source : http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/663486-exploit-organic-agriculture-uganda-advised.html
-->
Featured Companies
  • Fasa | Packaging machinery and solutions
  • /
  • PRODAL 94 SRL
  • ME GUSTA

Complete List  

Advertisers in previous issue:

  • Afronutri Ltd is an intermediary supplier of end consumer baby food   products selling directly to retails and wholesalers as well as hospitals and pharmacies.
  • Dairy Products
  • Veendeep Oiltek is one of India
  • The company was established since 1976Group of Companies, one of Ghazi and OlayanThe company is located in the schwing and this region is very rich in fruit trees of all varieties because of its mild climate
  • The Major Food Processing & Packaging Technology Show in Egypt & North Africa
  • Industrial Dynamics / filtec has been a leading innovator in the filed of inspection and laser coding equipment
  • VAPA Burners established in 1960, is the pioneer in manufacturing gas fired infrared burners in Lebanon.
  •  Alexform is the leading manufacturer of cold rolled steel profiles, offering both quality products and reliable service to its customers via the most advanced production facilities in Egypt.
  • This journal goes to producers, buyers, traders and carriers dealing with the food industry products from Ukraine, and neighbor and foreign countries.
  • Manufacturing of ice cream cones, sugar cones. Soft serve ice cream powder mix.
  • Postharvest international directory of suppliers. Equipments, materials & services. Fruits, vegetable & ornamentals.
  • El-Eman company provides a new source of specialized products of the highest standard of quality.
  • AgriTech Analytic
  • Delta Food produces tomato paste and milk powder in different packaging and in different concentration.
  •  The company started in 1987 and is today one of the largest privately owned companies supplying containers for a multitude of applications.
  • Gateway to Global Food B2B Marketplace
  • Ideo Tecnica, a company specialized in machinery for the confectionery industry and especially chocolate
  • We Can Help You Find the Right customers for our Equipment, chemicals, ingredients, Packaging 7 Services in Africa.
  • Bag Snacks registered since 1987 a constant growth, managing to position itself in Italy just below the major leaders of the sector.
  • MAYORA Group has grown to become one of the recognized names in the Fast Moving Consumer Goods Industry.
  • Magazine
  • Packing Materials & Machines, Packing  Materials & Machines manufacturer.
  • The Gulf Union Foods Company is one of the key national companies that have a clear contribution to the food manufacturing sector, especially juices and beverages.
  • KAP CONES , having built up an unrivalled reputation for exceptional quality, performance & service in printing industry for last over four decades, diversified into producing cone sleeves with   auto rolling mechanism for ice cream cones requirement
  •  Richfield Industries is a part of one of the fastest growing industrial and services conglomerate with projected turnover of Rs.1000 crore.
Afrotrade International Marketing, Tel: +971-50-6285684
© 1998-2025 Afrotrade