Frank K. Tumwebaze, the Minister for Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries yesterday unveiled a Committee tasked to study and profile the supply chain of agrochemicals, acaricides and inputs in Uganda with a view to establish existing gaps and loopholes in policy, regulatory frameworks and usage. This was at an event held at Hotel Africana in Kampala.
The Chairperson of the Committee is Prof. John David Kabasa who is the Principal, College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity and is deputized by Dr. Eve Kasirye Alemu.
The unveiled Committee is tasked to study and inquire into the forms of complaints and the probable root causes regarding the quality of agrochemicals, acaricides and inputs from the farmers and other stakeholders in the entire agricultural value chain.
“I kicked off this morning the work of the Prof Kabasa committee to inquire into the regulatory framework & efficacy of acaricides/agrochemicals,” Tumwebaze said on Wednesday.
“This committee will help the ministry to understand the actual problem, its magnitude and thus make relevant therapeutic policy recommendations,” the Minister added.
According to insiders in the Ministry, the team at MAAIF believes that one of the causes of diminished agricultural produce is the quality of agro-chemicals available on the market. As such, they want the Committee to study and profile their quality. The committee is expected to present the Ministry with conclusions and recommendations to tackle the problem.
While announcing the appointment of the committee last month, Minister Tumwebaze said that there were persistent complaints from farmers about the undesirable effects obtained from usage of agrochemicals in growing their crops.
According to the Agriculture Minister, the insights derived from the process shall be reviewed by cabinet and adopted to alleviate the current crisis.
“This committee will help us to understand the actual problem, its magnitude and thus make relevant therapeutic policy recommendations.
These will be discussed by Cabinet and thereafter adoption of the most effective ones.” Tumwebaze said.
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