Dr. Agnes Atim Apea, the Vice Chairperson of the Committee expressed concerns that while the year’s budget strategy developed by the Ministry of Finance hinged on food security as a key priority for Agro-Industrialization, no allocation was made for the purpose.
Members of
Parliament have tasked the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and
Fisheries (MAAIF) to prioritize plans that ensure sustainable food
security and nutrition.
On Tuesday, MPs
on the Committee of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries led by
Janet Grace Akech Okori-Moe. the Abim District Woman
Representative noted that the country has been facing food shortages as seen
during lockdowns occasioned by Covid-19 and Ebola Virus Disease due
to a lack of clear approaches to food security.
The committee
was meeting officials from the Ministry to scrutinize their budget framework
paper for the Financial Year 2023/2024.
//Cue in; “We
say we are…
Cue out…for them to plant.”//
Dr. Agnes
Atim Apea, the Vice Chairperson of the Committee expressed concerns that while the year’s budget strategy
developed by the Ministry of Finance hinged on food security as a key priority
for Agro-Industrialization, no allocation was made for the purpose.
//Cue in; “This budget strategy…
Cue out…money was released.”//
Ngora District Woman MP Stella Apolot Isodo observed that food insecurity is
raging in the country because the majority of local farmers are not being helped
by the Ministry to undertake proper post-harvesting of crops for greater yields
which remains a recipe for disaster.
//Cue in; “Much as now…
Cue out…post-harvest losses.”//
Bright Rwamirama the Minister of Agriculture said that the government has
rolled out the Parish Development Model – PDM, to address food security and
nutrition.
//Cue in;
“To ensure food…
Cue out…for food security.”//
Uganda’s
main threats to food security include population; growth, the increased demand
for food, food price, the disappearance of the variety of agricultural plant
species, the increase in the area of scarcity of water, and the limitation of the
availability of land, food losses, and food waste.
The National
Budget for FY 2023/24 is themed under, “Full Monetization of the Ugandan
Economy through Commercial Agriculture, Industrialization, Expanding and
Broadening Services, Digital Transformation and Market Access”.
The
projected budget for the Ministry’s Agro-Industrialization Programme in the FY
2023/2024 is 1.499 trillion Shillings out of the 47.328 trillion Shillings, to
cover strategic interventions including disease control, mechanization, and
civil works, among others. It represented a 3.2 percent allocation to the
sector but it suffered a 131.38 billion Shillings cut.
Ochola's journalism career begun from Radio King 90.2 FM in Gulu around 2009, and Radio Rupiny 95.7 Fm under Vision Group in 2012. He also reported for Mighty Fire 91.5 Fm, Kitgum in 2015 before joining Wizarts Foundation in 2017.
He has been reporting for Uganda Radio Network (URN) since 2017 before being posted as Bureau Chief Kitgum, and latr Gulu between 2018 - 2021. Currently, he reports from Parliament.
