Farmers asks Uganda to Amend the Plant Variety Protection Act to suit their interests.

By Samuel Nabwiiso

Small Scale Farmers in Uganda under their umbrella’s movement the Eastern and Southern Africa Small-scale Farmers’ Forum (ESAFF) - Uganda Chapter are calling upon Government to review some of the Agricultural Regulations that are not friendly with the rights of Small-Scale farmers.

The regulation that farmers want to be amended is the plant Variety and Protection Act which farmers say it only favour plant bleeders and Seed Companies and this has deprived their rights as Small Scale farmers who are the majority producers of foundation seeds in the Country.

farmers argue that the current Law does not allow them to register their indigenous Seeds varieties with the Ministry of Agriculture because majority cannot meet the Conditions as their prescribed in the Law.

"As Ugandan  farmers we joined  the rest of the World to commemorate the World Food Day/Week on the 16th/October 2022,  But Small scale farmers observed with concern that the National seed regulations i.e. the Plant Variety Protection Act among others regulations in the Country are generally focusing only on the so-called private sector seed companies of which their capacity to meet the National  seeds demand is still lower formal sector only produces  20% of the Nation’s seed's on an annual basis. This legal framework does not provide policy support for the production and distribution Of Agricultural inputs by small-scale farmers ,yet the National Seed Policy (2018) recognizes that the informal seed system is strategic in conserving the biodiversity and meets 80 percent of the Agricultural inputs requirements in Uganda" Said Ronald Bagaga the Head of Policy and Research at ESAFF-Uganda   in an Exclusive Interview with the Environment News Uganda.

Hakim Baliraine the Chairperson of ESAFF -Uganda explaining to the prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja  about their call on Regulation amendments 

He said that without protecting Small Scale farmer's to own their Indigenous seeds rights this may expose the Country to food Insecurity because many local farmers cannot afford to buy seeds produced by the private Sector and this may hinder the Country not to achieve this year's World food  Day theme  which was celebrated  under the theme  ‘Leave NO ONE behind.”

In 2014, Uganda passed the Plant Variety Protection Act ("the Act") with the aim of providing for the promotion of development of new plant varieties and their protection as a means of enhancing breeder's innovations and rewards through granting plant breeders’ rights.

Why Government is not recognizing seeds produced by Small Scale Farmer’s? According to the policy officer, Government argues that that these traditional and unimproved farming Agricultural farming inputs varieties produced by the Small-Scale farmers may not meet the standard regulations as their prescribed in the Law because of their genetic and phenotypic diversity characteristics that can make them more resilient to local Agro-ecological conditions.

 He added  that over depending on farming inputs produced by the private Sector is making Agriculture Sector to be more expensive yet the majority players are Small Scale farmers who cannot afford to procure advanced Agricultural inputs such as fertilizers, Agricultural Chemicals among other inputs to support the production of Agriculture products especially in the crop sub sector.

To ensure that Government recognizes indigenous Seed’s, Bagaga said that ESAFF-Uganda, a farming Movement of Small-Scale farmers they have Launched campaign which aimed at advocating for the review of the Plant Variety protection ACT by Government.

"Our request is that Government should repeal some of the regulations that do not favour Small Scale farmers to Own farming inputs farming rights" He requested.

ESAFF - Uganda a farmer led based organization is supporting over 30000 Small Scale farmers in Uganda and it operates in over 50 Districts across the Country.

When asked to comment on the recent Kenya's decision to lift the ban on the Cultivation and Importations of genetically modified organism Commonly known as GMO,Bagaga said its high time for Uganda to pass the Biotechnology Bill this will protect  Small Scale Farmer's in  Uganda and the Country at large from the negative Consequence's that may arise after the Consumption  of GMO products since Kenya shares Border with Uganda.

  "This year’s world Food was Celebrated at a time when one of the East African Community Member   state, Kenya rifting the ban on the cultivation of GMO crops and its importation. As Ugandan farmers,

Kenya whom Uganda share a common boarder and GMO confined field trials on 20 crops of rice, corn, banana, cotton, soybean, potato and sweet potato among others, the decision may not be good to Small Scale farmers in the region because of its economic complications  to the  ordinary farmers in the  East African Community" Bagaga the Policy and Research Officer at  ESAFF Uganda said.

ESAFF Chairpeson showing the pPrime Minister Some of the products Small Scale Famers produces  during the World Food Day  at Namulonge 

Currently most Countries in in the  region are experiencing rising food prices this has led to some Scientists to  advocates for the adoption of Biotechnology which they say  it can save the World from food Insecurity since the products produced through Biotechnology can withstand Climatic Change conditions, however most farmers especially the Small Scale one's who contributes about 73% of the farming communities ,say that introducing GMO it may infringe on farmers rights on access to seeds because GMO seeds involves ownership Rights and also has negative impact on the  Biodiversity which may hinders some Countries like Uganda not to attain Sustainable Development Goals.

"The decision is not vital because of its impacts on the Small Scale farmer's despite the 2022 World Food Day, it is marked against the COVID-19 pandemic, rising food prices and desperation of small scale farmers towards their seed variety rights through registration, biodiversity loss, environmental degradation, and food and nutrition insecurity. These factors, alongside the increasing effects of climate change pose many challenges to small scale farmers to sustain their livelihoods and feed the world “He added.

According to recent UN published report on global food security and nutrition 2022, found that the world is off track and 8% of the population could be facing hunger by 2030, the date initially set by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to achieve one of its primary targets of zero hunger World.

 The report further states that 3.1 billion people globally did not afford a healthy diet, compared to 112 million more than the previous year. In the report, UN FAO Director-General Dr. Qu Dongyu described the 2022 report as ‘a wakeup call’ for the world.

“We need to urgently transform our agri-food systems to be more efficient, more resilient, more inclusive and more sustainable. “He said in the report.

In Uganda, Crop genetics diversity continues to be maintained by small-scale farmers’ fields in the form of farmer varieties yet a few have not been included in the National Variety Lists, which is a precondition for propagation material of these varieties to be produced on large scale.

Hakim Baliraine the Chairperson of ESAFF, -Uganda told Environment News Uganda that they have tried to have dialogue with Government which led to the development of some recommendation that are friendly to Small Scale Farmers but Government has not yet implemented them.

"As farmers Movement's we have tried to work with Government and other development organization such as Oxfam ,NARO ,Biovesity International to develop roadmap for registration of local seeds however the framework has not been implemented by Government we appeal to Government to respect the recommendations that were Agreed on during the meeting between farmers and Government Agencies under Ministry of Agriculture" He said.

According to him, Farmers organization  had an engagement with Government Agencies on Crop inputs  Varieties registration where a roadmap for registration of farmers’ varieties in Uganda was developed to address the gaps in the current seed laws and unanimous action agreed upon to push for Cabinet approval of a draft but this has not been implemented by Government.

"Moving forward, the Government through the National Seed Certification Services under MAAIF instituted a committee to advance the processes for the development of guidelines on farmers’ variety registration and establishing mechanisms for registration at both local and national levels. We are concerned that since its inception, the committee has never operated due to financial constraints as farmers we call on Government to source for financial resources to fund the operationalizations of the Committee.

Farmers   believe that recognizing  their Rights to own seeds  through variety registration will increase the production of farmer seeds varieties, hence  increasing farmer-based seeds  enterprises, income generation from seeds  sales, quality seeds, which may led to increased food production in the Country  and hence improving Nutrition in Uganda and in the region at large and Africa as Continent  which is food insecure.

Farmers believe that Protecting Farmers' rights on seed's Will also reduce farmers’ dependence on patented seeds and expensive fertilizers as well as a reduction on the risks to biodiversity. As Small-Scale farmers we ask Government to create conducive Environment to Small Scale farmers to operate.

 As way forward farmers ate a urging Government to Develop guidelines for the registration of Small Scale farmers produced variety seeds and popularize the guidelines among small-scale farmers.

 Farmers also want Government to reactivate the National Coordination Committee formed in 2018 during the international workshop on registration of farmer Varieties and finance their operations to support small-scale farmers in the process of registering farmer seed varieties.

Lastly the Small-Scale Farmers are also asking

Government to strength small scale farmers groups that are actively conserving biodiversity in Uganda. The famers say, Government should develop guidelines for building stronger linkages between small-scale farmers, community seed banks and the national gene bank.

Uganda’s   Prime Minister  Robinah Nabbanja who officiated at the World Food Day  advised the farmers to Coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture that will push their demand.

However, in telephone Interview with the minister of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries Frank Tumwebaze said that Small Scale farmers should work with other stake holders in the Agriculture Sector if their concerns ate to be realized.

"Let them consult other stake holders as Government we are ready to receive their petition and also come up with Legal frame work that may suit the interest of our Local farmer's since they plays big role in Agriculture Sect

Invest more resources in Research,EAC Universities are told

 BY SAMUEL NABWIISO

ENTEBBE -UGANDA:  Fighting poverty in the East African Community Member States will not be achieved if institutions of Higher Learning from the Seven Members Economic block do not invest more resources both financial and Human resources in Researches and share data from their findings.

According to policy makers from the region, Institutions of Higher Learning plays big role towards fighting poverty through carrying out researches from which the study findings can guide policy makers to make investment decisions.

"As region we need a lot of data on key sectors such as Education, Health, Transport but the policy makers are not accessing to such information  in the region because less studies have been undertaken by research institution's such as Universities and where research has been under taken, the study findings are not shared among member states in the region which negatively impedes  decision  making" Explained Uganda's State Minister of Education Technology and Sports in Charge of Higher Education Dr.John Chrysostom Muyingo

 The Minister made the alarming statement during the inter-university Council of East Africa meeting held in Entebbe-Uganda on Strengthening Coordination of Collection and Management of Data in Higher Education and University Research in the EAC region. 

The forum brought together stakeholders in higher education including Universities, National Councils of Higher Education, key technocrats from Ministries of Education in EAC Partner States and other research institutions to discuss research coordination for evidence-based policy making.

Muyingo, added by advising Universities in the region to train researchers who are capable to produce quality data that can guide decision/policy makers, the minister observed that many researchers in the region are producing research reports which are substandard and this affects Investment decision making by governments in the region's.

To ensure that there's accurate data concerning the Education Sector in Uganda as guiding tool for proper planning in the Education Sector, Muyingo said the Government of Uganda has embarked on the Education Management Information System which aims at capturing all data on School aged going children.

"This initiative will capture data for learners starting at pre-Primary to Universities as Government we think the data generated from the Exercise will help decision makers to plan for Education sector both at Central level and Local Government's we challenge all the governments in the region to replicate what Uganda is doing to generate accurate data concerning the Education Sector for proper planning. “The minister said.

Participants in Group Photo with the Minister Fourth from the right  on the front low  

Speaking the same event, the Executive Secretary of the Inter-University Council of East Africa, Professor Gaspard Banyankimbona, said the council has also embarked on an initiative with support from development partner organizations to develop Higher Education Information Management Systems.

Professor Gaspard Banyankimbona, making his A dress during the meeting 

"IUCEA and other Regional Higher Educational Organization such as the Education Sub Sahara Africa, Association of the African Universities among other organizations is implementing a protect which aims at mitigating the challenge's most Higher Institutions of Higher Learning are experiencing when it comes to data generation, and security management" He said.

 

 

 

                                                        

Uganda gets, a $1Million medical diagnostic Laboratory

 BY SAMNUEL NABWIISO

KAMPALA-UGANDA -Metropolis Health care limited one of the India s leading medical diagnostic company has officially launched their state of the.  art medical diagnostic Laboratory in Uganda

The Kampala based medical infrastructure which is valued at $1milion   has the capacity to conduct maximum number of sample testing per day.
Avadhut Joshi the Chief Executive Officer International Business, at the Metropolis Healthcare said the medical Laboratory has been equipped with modern medical Laboratory diagnostic equipment’s.
 
"The Kampala based medical diagnostic Laboratory has been equipped with state of the art diagnostic technological equipment’s to deliver best in class patients services since the center also has best qualified staffs to handle the patient’s services “The CEO said during the Launch of the Diagnostic Testing Laboratory in Uganda.

He added that the opening of the Metropolis Medical Laboratory in Uganda will contribute greatly to the Country’s health sector because it is going to create avenues for medical technological transfer since the company will be directly working with the local hospitals and clinicians to ensure that they adopt the usages of modern technologies on the market which is one way of building the country's medical  Human resources as the company has been doing in some countries where  the Metropolis Health care operates.

Dr. Susan Nabadda cutting the ribon during tje opening of the Laboratory 

.Currently on the African Continent, the India’s based Metropolis Healthcare medical diagnostic Health services provider company is currently operating in South Africa, Kenya, Zambia and latest it has opened up its footprint in Uganda.
 
Officiating at the grand opening of the medical diagnostic center in Kampala,the Commissioner for Medical Laboratory Services in the Ministry of Health,Dr Susan Nabadda said the coming on board by Metropolis healthcare devices in Uganda will have positive impact on the country's health sector, she said many Uganda's have been incurring huge expenditure to travel to India for highly specialized medical diagnostic service's but with the coming of Metropolis healthcare services provider all these will be done in Uganda.
 
"This is great achievement for us in the medical sector because the center will offer services here locally this saves time for the professionals to offer quality health services but also it lowers the cost of accessing equality medical services by our patients who have been travelling to India to get quality specialized medical services “She said.

She noted that government diagnostic centers alone cannot offer the required services from members of the public thus the need for the private sector to come on board and support government through establishing medical diagnostic centers across the various parts of the country where the medical diagnostic services are highly demanded.
"As Government we shall support the private sector to ensure that they invest in the country's health sector" She promised.
 
Speaking at the same event, the founder of Metropolis Healthcare Dr Sushil Shah noted that his company will continue investing in those Countries where the demand for quality diagnostic medical services are highly demanded.
 
"Our coming to Uganda was based on our research work where we found that there were some gaps when it comes to access to quality specialised medical diagnostic health services as company we are committed to offer quality medical diagnostic related health services to the general public in Uganda “He said.
In Uganda, Metropolis Healthcare services provider will offer a comprehensive range of about 4000 clinical laboratory tests and profiles used for predication, early detection, diagnostic, screening confirmation and monitoring of diseases.
The diagnostic solutions that will be offered at the center include routine semi specialty and supper specialty domains like Oncology, Neurology, Gynecology Nephrology and many other related medical conditions.

Meet Ugandan IT Innovator who is using IT to change lives of the youth.

BY SAMUEL NABWIISO

Fighting poverty in Uganda will not be achieved if majority of the youth do not embrace Technology Innovations especially in Information and Communication technologies.

According to those who have embraced it their finding it easier to get jobs and also market various consumable goods and services across the global.

 

In Uganda many Ugandan youth have tried to engage in IT innovations and there’s signs of prospering in the Business Industry, the latest one being Ugandan IT innovator Timoth Musasizi

 

Through innovation, Musasizi managed to break all chains to prosper both in business and technology, which he dreams to return to the communities he lives in.

 

At 32 years now, as he is fondly known amongst his business peers, MK Timothy envisions a community full of innovators, new ideas in technology and others that would make a difference in life.

Musasizi bussy in his ITlab

Through his multi-million IT Company Tim Tech Technologies, Timothy has empowered several university graduates with experience and innovative skills.

 

“We had a small facility to host colleagues who were graduating but with limited opportunities to put their dreams into a reality.” He says.

 

Through innovation, the company has stood the test of time, making several innovations that have facilitated business transactions and making life better.

 

Today, he has taken on the responsibility to help more young people make it in life, by providing a platform for them to innovate, speak out, try out and make it happen.

Running an open Technology Centre at Seguku near Entebbe, Musasizi believes this would help several youths discover their potential in different areas of innovation.

 

The Centre that attracts at least 30 to 50 young men and women is run on a probono basis, to facilitate innovation while others discover their different talents and skills.

 

“We want to share the little we have, with the communities and influence those we can to change their lives”. He says, while talking to this publication.

 

Fully furnished like Computers and all the accessories, internet and equipped with latest technology, the centre attracts both school going youths and those who dropped out of education, but deserve another opportunity.

 

It’s from such a centers that Homeduuka, a run-away successful online business outfit was created. The technology has been one key business driver Deeping into the Country’s cash and food economy.

 

Today, Tim Tech Consult has a direct influence in facilitating businesses across Africa with running contracts in Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola, Zambia and an IT Guru in the Philippines to facilitate an all-time inter and intra connect link to different clients and entities in both the private and public sectors.

 

Born to a humble Coffee farming family 32 years ago, in Mbale, Timothy Karubanga Musasizi attended basic elementary education in Eastern Uganda, where he would always find time to hawk bakeries and other simple edibles that groomed his business acumen ship

 

Shortly after finishing High School, Musasizi started a cereal vending business in DR Congo, where he found a Japanese friend Kenji Ekuan, who was an Industrial Designer.

The two traveled together to Japan, from where Musasizi acquired an opportunity to study Communication Engineering

 It’s from Japan, that Musasizi started Tem Tech Consults in 2008, before relocating to Uganda in 2010. In the same year, Musasizi secured a $12m business contract with a Congolese Company that has never allowed him to look back.

 

It’s through his professional references that Tim Tech secured working relationships in Zambia, and Angola to provide their IT Expertise that would bring business into consumers’ homes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Integrate Neglected and Underutilized Species (NUS) in the Agricultural systems CSOs ask Government

BY SILVIA  NAMUWANGAI

 Civil Society Organizations are calling upon the government to integrate Neglected and Underutilized Species (NUS) in the Agricultural systems because they play an essential role in strengthening Uganda’s food and nutritional security and buffer economic and social shocks that might hit the population due to focusing on limited diversity of crops in communities

Neglected and Underutilized Species (NUS) are cultivated, semi-domesticated, or wild plant species, not included in the group of the major staple crops. In most cases, they do not meet the global market requirements and they often represent resilient species and valuable sources of vitamins, micronutrients, and other phytochemicals; a wider use of NUS would enhance sustainability of agro-systems and a choice of nutritious foods with a strategic role for addressing the nutritional security challenge.

According to Eastern and Southern Africa Small Scale Farmers Forum (ESAFF)-Uganda which is implementing the Sowing Diversity=Harvesting Security (SD-HS) program with different pillars among which is strengthening communities' coping strategies by increasing the intake of nutritious food based on local biodiversity and improved NUS management.

 Caption farmers attending the dialogue 

To ensure that farmers   embrace NUS, ESAFF Uganda is undertaking   different initiatives such as organizing cross-generational dialogues among the farming communities across the country. Through these dialogues’ farmers especially the women and youth where they are empowered with traditional Knowledge about NUS through knowledge sharing sessions from different members such the elderly men and women which helps them to understands the social and economic importance of NUS   

 

“The Cross-generational Dialogues are   multi-demographic conversations that bring together key stakeholders like the elders and the youths to discuss the role and usage of the NUS in fighting poverty, hunger and malnutrition in communities.  Because youths are less engaged in agriculture, the Cross-generational dialogues are very resourceful in helping them to come together and share experiences and learn from each other on different ways on how to cope with hunger and malnutrition especially amidst the rampant effects of Climate Change” Says Nancy Mugimba the National Coordinator ESAFF Uganda.

She adds that besides addressing food security, poverty and malnutrition in the community, NUS contribute to improve nutrition, generating income, maintaining ecosystem health, empowering the poor and marginalized, and promoting cultural diversity.

  In Uganda, traditional knowledge about NUS, which is essential for its conservation and preservation, is held by the older generation. The recent population census shows that Uganda is the world’s second youngest country globally with a median age of 15 yet most youths lack adequate information about NUS and its importance. To sustain NUS's role in Uganda’s food system, the young generation needs to be empowered with knowledge and resources to protect and conserve the NUS.

ESAFF Uganda is focusing on the Cross-generational dialogues as they are fundamental in building a collaborative movement of different stakeholders who are actively contributing to address challenges, needs and opportunities related to promoting NUS at local and national levels. Due to these dialogues there has been an increased understanding of NUS across all generations because of the open discussions during the Cross-generational dialogues that enable knowledge sharing.

To ensure that citizens are equipped with the knowledge ESAFF is conducting sessions where policy makers and other different stakeholders meet to discuss the role of government in the conservation and preservation of these species.

These kinds of sessions have played a big role in changing the mindset of the youths from looking at NUS as a poor man’s food to appreciating their contribution in fighting against poverty, hunger and malnutrition in the communities.

Obura Papias a younger farmer from Apac District in Northern Uganda says that youths are still ignorant about these Neglected Underutilized Species because all the information is held by the elders.

 “The elders should not abandon us; we are a stronger generation and all we need is support and knowledge on how to handle our local diversity.” Obura Papias,a young small-scale farmer from Apac district.

Achan Winifred, a small-scale farmer from Amuria district, adds that Cross-generational dialogues are fundamental in building a collaborative movement of different stakeholders who are actively contributing to addressing challenges, needs and opportunities related to promoting NUS at local and national levels.

She adds that there has been an increased understanding of NUS across all generations because of the open discussions during the Cross-generational Dialogues. Oftentimes, the cross-generational dialogues are organized with cookery demonstrations that enable participants to gain both practical and theoretical knowledge on the preparation of the different local food plants.

“Most of the local foods are tactile to prepare, showcasing the preparation procedures to the young generation is mandatory. This is the only way they can learn to get the actual values of these foods.” Achan Winifred is a small-scale farmer from Amuria district.

 Where the Sowing Diversity=Harvesting Security is being implemented, the communities have appreciated the cross-generational dialogues and there is an evident increase in uptake of the NUS considering their nutritional and medicinal values.

 Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, many communities resorted to the NUS as they are famous for boosting the body’s immunity to fight against diseases. Medical practitioners have also encouraged communities to consume local foods due to their nutritiona