AGRICULTURAL LAND IN UGANDA IS LOCKED UP IN THE 'PRISON OF GREED AND PRESTIGE'

A lot has been said lately about solutions to the setbacks in agriculture in Uganda especially with reference to enhancing national food security and contributing to foreign exchange earnings. I agree that in order to transform the agricultural systems in Uganda, several things have to be done right (read differently) and one among them is effective utilisation of the land resource.

It is very likely that one of the major contributors to our setbacks is that the bulk of agricultural land is held (read locked up) by “non-farming” title holders. It is not uncommon in Uganda to hear of a land owner of 1, 2, 4, 5 or more square miles of agricultural land (as one block) with only a small fraction of it, if any, being used for meaningful modern, commercial agricultural production. It is also very likely that the owners of such huge chunks of land are not engaged in commercial agriculture neither do they primarily earn a living from agriculture. It is therefore debatable whether they are bothered about or conscious of the significant role they play in national food security and agricultural exports.

If such people subject the land to some crop production, it will most likely be underplanted and if it holds some livestock, it is grossly understocked but in both cases, the land is largely unimproved. The irony is that the title holder in this case, although not adequately farming the land, will usually lock out those who earn their living from farming from accessing (even for hire in some instances) any inch of the land (grazing land, watering points, land for crop production). Furthermore, it is noteworthy that these small scale producers are the ones who feed the cities where the owners (title holders) of the ‘dormant’ (‘underutilised’) land dwell!

Let’s unlock the huge chunks of land from the ‘prison’ of prestige, greed and primitive pride and make it available to the genuine producers who wish to feed the nation and generate surplus for exports.

While I have no idea about who owns how much of Uganda’s agricultural land, the hypothesis that the bulk of it is in the hands of individuals not earning much of their living directly by - and could do without - themselves being farmers needs rigorous testing so that we can get a clear understanding of the situation.

Should it be established that these land owners do not primarily earn a living from farming and are not about to think that way, government should interest them to either engage in joint partnerships with agricultural investors or sublet (lease) the land to production-minded individuals for a given period of time. That way, their land remains secure, they earn from it without working and they contribute, albeit indirectly, to food security and foreign currency income to the nation.

As it is now, the rich city dwellers who own the huge underutilised chunks of land in the countryside can be said to have used their money to literally lock out not only food but also money for the nation! Several land- and agricultural-related policies and laws ought to be revisited including - sensitive though it is - considering levying a fee on underutilised huge chunks of agricultural land. I am told this idea was once mooted by a distinguished Member of Parliament. What merits / demerits did cabinet and parliament find in that proposal?

We ought to broaden our entrepreneurial acumen into agriculture and take the agricultural land resource from its current perceived underperforming state to a more profitable one. If in the current state of underproduction we still manage to export agricultural products, how much better would we do with just a little more organized use of land?

(This article was published in the New Vision newspaper of 20 March 2012)

Drogba and Africa score 100 goals in England

It happened in London on Saturday 10th March 2012. Didier Drogba of Chelsea FC scored his 100th goal in the Barclays English Premiership. He goes on record as the first African to do it. Kudos Didier.

What a day to make that history. It happened on the day of the Didier Drogba Foundation Charity Ball 2012.

UNDERSTANDING MARKET DEMANDS FOR ANIMAL AND ANIMAL PRODUCTS

Every market dictates terms be it a commodity or a service market. Producers and
suppliers of animals and animal products are not exempt from ʻdancing to the tunesʼ
dictated either by the controllers (regulators) of the market or the consumers(buyers). It is imperative therefore that the players in the market understand the rules of the game and also adhere to some basic requirements in order to remain relevant in the competitive market.

Commercial animal farmers ought therefore to embrace and put into practice some of the following principles irrespective of the species of animals or type of animal products they trade in whether locally or in foreign markets: maintaining a reliable and timely supply; providing safe and high quality products that meet market needs and regulatory standards; and appropriately pricing their supplies, among others.

As a first year student in the Makerere University Veterinary School in the early 90s, one of my Professors, in his attempt to illustrate the size of the international market (foreign exchange potential) for our animals and animal products and the urgency for the players in the animal sector to enhance production of animals and animals products, narrated to us one of his experiences as a then highly placed government official in the Ministry of Animal Industry, Game and Fisheries (how we wish it be re-instated) in the 1970s. While on one of his visits to the Middle East, he negotiated a ʻjuicyʼ deal that would make our goat and sheep farmers smile all the way to the bank. When the first order came, we (Uganda) supplied. The clients were happy and a few weeks later placed an order for a regular supply. The Professor was humbled when it dawned on him that if we supplied as per the order, the goat and sheep stock in the country would be depleted in less than 6 months! Would anybody sign that contract?

While we probably cannot meet that demand yet, we are told a country in the horn of
Africa supplies the Middle East with goats and sheep and they attempt to do it timely and in accordance with demand waves in that region. Could they have mastered the principle of reliable and timely supply? Any lessons for Uganda (farmers, government, animal health and production professionals)?

Reliability and timely supply will only work if one supplies what the market accepts. It is sad to say that most of our animals and animal products cannot access certain markets due to non-tariff barriers (NTBs), the majority of them being failure to meet safety standards prescribed by regulators. We therefore have to demolish these barriers so as to access the lucrative foreign markets and boost foreign currency inflows.

Recognising the significant role and necessity of the veterinary profession in
contributing to the improved production of ʻcleanʼ animals and animals products for the global market, and thereby overcoming the NTBs and establishing fair play, the UN World Organisation for Animal Health declared veterinary services a ʻpublic goodʼ. Unfortunately, in Uganda, some districts boast of having one or even no veterinary professional (Public Service) and yet hope to be significant players in this highly competitive market laden with barriers. Government should revisit its agricultural priorities especially the amount of resources (human, funding, equipment) accorded to the animal sector as it harnesses the collective efforts of all stakeholders towards the common mission of increasing animal protein, meeting local food security demands and foreign income earnings from animals and animal products. Sow the right seeds in right amounts on the right ground and your harvest will be big.

KIIRA EV, THE ELECTRIC CAR MADE IN UGANDA

On 28 July 2007 I wrote in this 'freedom of speech arena' a post entitled, "Science education and science development in Uganda" (find link to it at the bottom of this post). I waited for four years to witness (with my physical presence at the scene) one of my wishes come to pass. In the July 2007 post, I expressed my opinion, albeit humbly, to the effect that one of the strategies for promoting science education and science development in Uganda should be throwing political weight behind local scientific achievements that draws with it big media coverage.

When on Thursday 24 November 2011 at Makerere University campus the President of the Republic of Uganda was, in the presence of all kinds of media cameras, initially inspecting and later being driven in a home made electric vehicle, an output of investment in science, I recalled my wishes of July 2007. Credit be given to the local media who, a week earlier, had given the Kiira EV car very good publicity mileage. One of the missing pieces in the puzzle was political weight. It came and it came big. Thank God for an answered prayer.

While the day's activities focused mainly on the environmentally friendly Kiira EV (zero tail emissions), the President also visited stalls in which were displayed a selection of just a few innovations that have taken place in the various Schools and Colleges of Makerere University. How I wish the President could sway more political will and media cameras to each of the Schools or Colleges some day for these innovations to be shared with the public through the media.

I better say this here because it might not be publicly expressed elsewhere that the responsibility of organising this Presidential visit was put on the shoulders of not just any scientist but one with accolades for his excellence in scientific innovations. Kudos to Prof. Steven Allan Nyanzi, a respected member of Makerere University Senate for planning the day's actvities. From my privileged position, I know how much appreciation Prof. Nyanzi needs for the patience, tolerance and wise guidance he exhibited. He managed a team with varied interests and unpredictable capabilities of response to new ideas and developments. He allowed the ideas to mix freely while tolerating the varied behaviours of the members before guiding the discussions to a logical conclusion - an agreement. The situation sounds very much like an experiemnt in chemistry which Prof. Nyanzi has competently managed over the years.

Addressing invited guests after the test drive, the President pledged continued support to scientists in the country (better remuneration and more funds for research). How I wish the Minister of Finance and the Secretary to Treasury or the latter's deputy were present to listen to the President's statements which I wish were phrased as 'directives'. Well well, maybe somebody took the message to them. They needed to see for themselves what motivation of scientists and more funding support to research can produce.

May God help Makerere continue to build for the future.

• Find my July 2007 post here
• Read more about the electric car made in Uganda here.

Chelsea FC Managers fines count continues

Just like one of his predecessors and countryman, Jose Mario dos Santos Felix Mourinho, the young Portuguese Manager at Chelsea FC, Andre Villas-Boas, has started his count of fines (by the English FA) to add to JM's collection. I have recorded one so far. Read more here.

Hon. Martha Karua for President

It is about that time again when Kenyans go to the polls (National Elections). I have not been following closely so one thing had not yet occured to me: there is a female candidate already in the race (declared her interest ahead of all others). Her name, Martha Karua, MP of Gichugu constituency in Central Province.

So how did I get to know about her? I was chatting over lunch with some Kenyans and of course the topical issue at the time (to me) was the Kenya Presidential elections 2012. I started by dividing it into three: Mzee Mwai Kibaki's declaration of his retirement (held a 'thank you' party in his constituency and the message was that 30 years was a long enough time for him to have represented them); the succession question and the individuals on the queue for the presidency of the Republic of Kenya. It was not long before I exposed my ignorance about the latter. I mentioned three names of the 'usual suspects', all of them male. One of the ladies in my company added an unfamiliar name (to me) and I missed it initially. I seem to have offended them when I said I wasn't aware there was a lady in the queue.

I took interest in learning more about the lady (in the queue). In their attempt to stress why I should have known Hon. Martha Karua and also to emphasise how capable she is, the three Kenyan ladies gave me a phrase I have never heard and of course will not forget. They said Hon. Karua was once described thus: "She was the only man in Kibaki's (negotiation) team". This was at the time negotiations were heated up about the Kenya election results and 'power sharing' agreement about 5 years ago.

I will keep myself constantly updated by Hon. Karua about her progress via Twitter - @Martha_W_Karua; her campaign website and on Facebook.

Her message is, 'Jitokeze for a greater Kenya!'. Something in her website closely resembles President Barack Obama's campaign website of 2008. He won the elections and became the first Black American with Kenyan blood to become President of the United States of America. Could this mean something about the first Kenyan woman President? Who knows?

Well, what else can I say except, I wish you well Mama.

Rinderpest eradicated from the face of the earth

In May 2008, the World Organisation for Animal Health declared Uganda free of rinderpest, the last case having been seen in 1994 in Moroto district. For more information follow this link.