Nakaseke District recently developed an ordinance titled Nakaseke District (Local Government) (Maize) Ordinance 2015 that was put in plca in accordance with S. 38 of the Local Governments Act, Cap 243, to regulate the maize industry in the district and ensure production of quality maize that meets set market standards. This is the first ordinance to be developed in Uganda specifically for maize production and trade.
Uganda’s export potential for maize is estimated at between 200,000 and 250,000 metric tonnes per annum, and yet studies show that Uganda formally exports only half of this amount. This is despite the fact that there is a high unmet demand for maize in the East African region with Kenya’s annual consumption alone estimated at 3,670,000 metric tonnes with a supply deficit of 600,000 metric tonnes.
One of the key causes of Uganda’s low penetration levels into the formal maize markets at regional and international levels is the poor quality of maize produced in the country. As a result, there have been incidents where Uganda’s maize has been rejected by trading partners. Tanzania in 2013 rejected a consignment of 15,000 metric tonnes of maize from Uganda, citing concerns about its quality.
Stakeholders attribute the prevalence of poor standards to a number of issues, including lack of awareness about market requirements. This is partly due to slow adoption and implementation of agreed regional and international policies. At local/sub-regional levels, gaps in policy frameworks have provided a leeway for some farmers and traders to engage in unscrupulous practices such as spraying maize with chemicals to speed up its drying, mixing diseased and rotten grains with good grains, among others. This affects the quality and standards of grain. There is also a challenge of low support to local governments that is required to sensitise stakeholders on market requirements.
It should also be noted that poor handling of grains, especially at the post-harvest handling level, affects both quality and safety. Moist conditions arising from poor storage lead to contamination of grains.
The Nakaseke District maize ordinance was, therefore, developed to address these issues. The ordinance stipulates the acceptable production and marketing practices, including proper agronomic and post-harvest handling, registration of dealers in maize, proper storage, milling and transportation. The ordinance also outlines a scope of offences with related punitive measures for mulpractices that affect good maize standards, and elaborates on which institutions are responsible for enforcing compliance with the set regulations and their specific roles at each policy level.
Implementation of this law will ensure quality production of maize and improved prices for farmers and traders in the district, and enable them to realise improved incomes, improved health and safety. It is important for other districts across the country to replicate this ordinance so that the resultant benefits are scaled up to a national level.
In order to combat ‘Uganda’s disease’ of having good laws that fail at implementation, the ordinance should promote a multi-stakeholder approach in implementation with the aspect of community policing. Already, the farmers and traders that were engaged in the development of this ordinance have improved the quality of their maize.
It is, therefore, clear that if the regulatory framework is put right at all levels, farmers and traders will be able to yield better returns from agriculture and trade their way out of poverty.
Ms Asiimwe is a programme officer, Seatini-Uganda. asiimwelina@gmail.com
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