Strengthening oversight of agricultural input suppliers can boost productivity

What the report says

The Observer says Uganda’s agricultural sector remains central to the economy, but support for it has lagged behind policy commitments. In a viewpoint piece, the publication notes that agriculture is widely described as employing most of the population and contributing a significant share of GDP, while budget allocations have stayed well below the 10 per cent target agreed under African Union frameworks such as the 2003 Maputo Declaration and the 2014 Malabo commitments.

The article argues that smallholder farmers still face major difficulties obtaining genuine seeds, fertilisers and equipment at affordable prices. It says weak and fragmented oversight of agricultural input suppliers, especially at district level, contributes to counterfeit products, price exploitation and inconsistent advisory services. The Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries is identified as the main regulator, but local government responsibilities are described as spread across several departments, making coordination and enforcement difficult.

To improve productivity, the author recommends stronger registration, licensing and quality checks for input dealers, along with training and possible certification for suppliers operating in rural areas. The piece also calls for better price regulation, more collaboration between government and non-state actors, and greater use of farmer groups to improve purchasing power and accountability.

The commentary concludes that progress will also depend on government moving toward the promised 10 per cent agriculture budget allocation over time. The author is identified as a postdoctoral research fellow at Iowa State University.