Why government needs to think beyond Shs100bn loan facility Kampala, Uganda | JULIUS BUSINGE | The government recently made a policy announcement targeting maize farmers and traders. It promised to provide Shs100bn as loan facility, through the Bank of Uganda’s Agriculture Credit Facility to maize traders to enable them buy the …
Read More »Maize everywhere, but no store anywhere
Bumper maize harvest exposes weakest link in food supply chain Kampala, Uganda | RONALD MUSOKE | There is good news on Uganda’s food security front. The agriculture ministry estimates that Uganda has harvested about 5.5 million metric tonnes from the last planting season; which is a 38% increase from the …
Read More »Maize flour prices in Kenya on the upward trend
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Maize flour prices in Kenya has increased by nearly third to Ksh 115 for the two kilogramme packet since the millers exhausted subsidised flour stocks. The country’s media reports indicate that the top retailers including Uchumi and Tuskys have exhausted the Ksh90 maize flour …
Read More »Maize glut hits Uganda
Maize prices drop by 70% as exports to Kenya reduce due to political uncertainties Kampala, Uganda | JULIUS BUSINGE | Uganda’s farmers could battle to sell some of their surplus maize as major customers who mainly export to Kenya cut back on their purchases citing political uncertainties in the latter …
Read More »RAILA ODINGA: Memo to the President
Nairobi, Kenya | RAILA ODINGA| On 7th June, we asked President Uhuru Kenyatta to immediately fly to Ethiopia and ask his counterpart to sell maize to Kenyans. We also asked the President to fire the CS and PS of Agriculture and the CS of Devolution and Planning for deliberately misleading Kenyans on …
Read More »EXPOSED: Uganda’s secret GMO research
Unknown to most Ugandans, NARO currently runs one of the most active GMO research facilities on the African continent Kampala, Uganda| ANDREW S. KAGGWA | Barbara Ntambirweki, a research fellow with Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment (ACODE) is preparing for a bit fight – against introduction into the country of Genetically …
Read More »Mugabe’s Zimbabwe bans maize imports after bumper crop
Harare, Zimbabwe | AFP | Zimbabwe has banned the import of corn after enjoying a bumper crop that authorities hope will be enough to feed the nation and stimulate home-grown production, state-owned media reported Tuesday. Zimbabwe was once known as the “breadbasket” of Africa for its fertile land and modern …
Read More »NARO tips farmers on drought, Fall Army Worm
The National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) has advised farmers to pay attention to their gardens to counter possible threats related to the Fall Army Worm that recently hit maize farmers in 65 districts of Uganda. Speaking on the sidelines of the World Bank’s Open Day event at Kololo Airstrip on …
Read More »Maize grain: A neglected coupon that could boost Uganda’s power in the EAC?
By Eriasa S. Mukiibi One issue that has preoccupied Ugandans since the launch of the East African common market is what they could sell to their regional counterparts in order to compete successfully. Dr. Bernabas Kiiza, an agricultural economist at Makerere University, believes the answer to this puzzling question is …
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