Policy Action for Sustainable Intensification of Ugandan Cropping Systems

Updated on: 2023-09-13 12:58:26

The project aims to support Government of Uganda through MAAIF to boost its own capacity to formulate and implement relevant and well-targeted policies and programs in the agriculture sector with a view of intensifying smallholder production.

The Policy Action for Sustainable Intensification of Ugandan Cropping Systems or PASIC project intends to contribute to capacity building for the formulation and implementation of relevant and well-targeted policies and programs in the agricultural sector in Uganda with a view of enhancing the intensification of smallholder production. Without intensifying their agricultural production, Uganda's smallholder farming households produce little, are unable to save and accumulate to increase their scale of household economic production. They are very likely to fall into or remain in poverty, stuck in what is often termed a poverty trap.

ACODE is partnering with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) to implement an advocacy component of the project. The project is implemented in seven selected districts in Uganda divided into two zones: Eastern and Western Zones. The Eastern zone comprises of Tororo, Bugiri and Butaleja districts with focus on rice production. The Western Zone covers Kabale, Rubanda, Kisoro and Kanungu districts focusing on Irish potato production. ACODE is carrying out a series of inter-related activities at both national and district/community level that target various stakeholders respectively.

At the national level, the activities include but not limited to a) hold a series of strategic breakfast meetings with key decision-makers focusing on agricultural policy, legal and institutional frameworks; b) Develop and Disseminate advocacy messages through ACODE SMS platform; c) Organize TV and Radio talkshows to discuss key agricultural policy issues and d) Convene high level policy dialogues on crop intensification-related policies.

At the district and community level, ACODE intends to a) Develop and disseminate advocacy messages through ACODE SMS platform targeting district leaders, extension workers and farmers; b) Develop and disseminate radio spots on local radio stations targeting farmers, district leaders, extension workers, value chain actors, and credit institutions; c) Hold policy dialogues in two zones to raise awareness on crop intensification policies, and inform the process of formulating by-laws and ordinances at the district level.

The expected outcomes of these interventions are two-fold: (1) Evidence-based agricultural policy making process at the national and district level; and (2) Good agronomic practices among farmers at community level.