Agriculture Commodity Prices and the Impact on Farmer Productivity

Prices of produce, food and cash crops alike are ruled by market forces because of over liberalization of the economy which makes them unstable and fluctuating and attracts speculators to exploit the farmers. The result is condemnation of agriculture production to subsistence.
Whereas Uganda is capable of producing enough food for the entire regional market needs, conducive government policies to promote increased agriculture production alongside an integrated marketing system that includes value addition support are necessary so that there are value chains that guarantee farmers with stable prices and boost production.
Additionally, provision of market information can substantially contribute to increased agriculture production through enabling planning and assessment of the market environment. Information gaps between farmers, buyers and processors is one of the major constraints hindering agriculture development in Uganda.
These services mentioned are supposed to be a public good that should be delivered free of charge by government.
Discussions held with selected bring out the following views:

Farmers Aspirations and Expectations in Countering Climate Change

·         Devising strategies that will enable implementation of irrigation at farmer level

·         Obtaining information and knowledge of low cost irrigation technologies for sensitizing farmers and service providers

·         Developing farmer capacity to cost effective use of water sources that can enable adoption of growing high value crops, increase of agriculture production and improving household incomes

·         To develop networks and share knowledge and experiences among districts

·         To incorporate irrigation plans in district budgets for financial support from central government

·         Develop and change farmer attitudes from reliance on rain fed agriculture production

·         Develop district linkages with researchers, technology manufacturers and institutions of higher education for information dissemination to farmers

·         Identification of potential sites for piloting small scale irrigation for practical demonstration to farmers to enable wider adoption

·         Identify sources of appropriate low cost irrigation equipments and experts to provide technical support to farmers

Challenges Faced in Agriculture Production

The challenges identified are listed below:

·         Unsustainable and poor agricultural practices resulting in soil infertility, land slides, soil erosion, land fragmentation and climate change

·         Crop diseases and pests affecting agriculture production

·         High costs of inputs and low capital levels resulting low value crop choices by farmers

·         Droughts and unreliable weather patterns

·         Subsistence production using poor and rudimentary farming technologies

·         Low prices of agriculture produce

·         Lack of storage facilities for post harvest handling

Suggested Solutions to Challenges to Agriculture Production

·         Sensitisation, training and practical demonstrations to farmers on soil and water conservation best practices

·         Developing farmer linkages and networks with national crop, pest and diseases research institutions such as NARO and its affiliated institutes

·         Deliberate government policy to support irrigation application, irrigation technologies publicity and accessibility through consolidating land by purchase and local exchange for many farmers to benefit from intensive agriculture farming practices through group farms

·         Promote integrated pest and disease management systems

·         Improving road infrastructure and market value chains development

·         Training and increasing the number of agriculture extension staff and agricultural engineers

·         Promotion of use of organic soil fertility conservation techniques

·         Financing farmers to acquire irrigation systems at affordable terms

·         Mechanisation of farm operations and cultivation of high value crops

·         Value addition initiatives supported by government policy to stimulate increased agriculture production

·         Incorporation of irrigation technologies acquisition for farmers in NAADS activities

·         Subsidies and zero rated taxation on farm inputs

·         Government support towards development and marketing of low cost irrigation technologies