Resilient Efficient Agribusiness Chains in Uganda (REACH-Uganda): Annual Report | April-December 2017
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2018
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The Annual Report for the Resilient Efficient Agribusiness Chains in Uganda (REACH-Uganda) project covers a nine-month reporting period from April to December 2017. Significant progress was achieved during the period under review. The project conducted scoping and screening of 13 micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and project partners for potential inclusion in the project, alongside the development of a pipeline of potential partners for 2018 and beyond. At the same time the successful rollout of the project’s field activities, resulted in direct engagement and training of over 18,000 farmers. During the reporting period, public-private partnership (PPP) infrastructure activities were launched in the 19 districts where the project operates, and the first three projects were identified. Participating farmer business groups (FBGs) reported average turnovers of approximately €9,000 from their commodity sales. The potato value chain was particularly vibrant during the reporting period with a landmark introduction of new potato varieties, partners, and technology. In partnership with four Dutch potato seed producers (HZPC, Agrico, Stet, and Den Hartigh) and through a series of on-farm demonstrations, REACH-Uganda conducted the first commercial promotion of Dutch potato material in Uganda. This increased farmer awareness and demand for Dutch-developed potato varieties. Demand is now more likely to be met through local production since the entry of Namakwaland/High Grow Agri “Ug” farm into the ware and seed potato market.
The REACH-Uganda project, through its Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) with Cycas/House of Seeds, has been instrumental in the initiation of testing the world’s first approved True Potato Seed variety, Oliver F1, in Uganda. This represents a potential technological leap forward for farmers. Within the reporting period the REACH-Uganda project renewed its relationship with Stichting NAO Projecten (NAO). Resulting from past performance and strong relationship with NAO, an additional 17 varieties from five firms (HZPC, Agrico, Europlant, Meijer, and Den Hartigh) will now commence National Varietal Performance Trials. In contrast to the potato sector, the opportunities in the rice sector were more limited. Developments in late 2017 indicated that rice traders are now willing to focus on developing local supply chains while supplementing supplies through imports. However, during the early part of the reporting period, the project encountered a number of obstacles that hindered progress. Continued uncertainty over the impact of the suspension of the Common External Tariff (CET) on rice inhibited partners’ willingness to substantially commit to activities. The reporting period also demonstrated key advances for the project’s operational system, with the development and rollout of the Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Sharing plan (MELS). This has helped improve the speed of data collection for some output indicators, which are now captured in ‘real time,’ in the Management Information System (MIS). This has enhanced the efficiency of management decisions. With support and guidance from the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (EKN), the project completed the formulation of two of its crosscutting strategies: Gender and Climate-Smart Agriculture. Both represent ‘hot-button’ topics which were initiated in 2017 and will feature prominently in REACH’s activities in the coming years. Strong synergies are essential for the success of the REACH-Uganda project. During the reporting period, the project team worked closely with two EKN-supported projects, the URCimplemented Integrated Seed Sector Development Project + (ISSD+) and the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA)-implemented PASIC project. Linkage with the ISSD+ project has been helpful in developing the seed potato supply chain, especially for Quality Declared Seed. Working with the PASIC project has assisted the REACH-Uganda project to nuance its approach to Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) and landscape planning. Beginning in October 2017, the REACH project team also has been working closely with its sister project, Promotion of Nutrition-Sensitive Potato Value Chains (PNSP), funded by GIZ. This activity is focused in eastern Uganda on Mt. Elgon. While 2017 was a productive year for REACH-Uganda, challenges and obstacles remain. Market system projects are sometimes considered “a holistic solution to unsustainable development.” The REACH project team believes that market system projects if implemented well, are more effective at accomplishing sustainable long-term change within markets. To overcome stakeholders’ reticence, project implementers must continually promote a mindset change. Stakeholders must be willing to approach the opportunities offered by the project with an open mind. Some potential stakeholders will continue to look for projects that offer short-term cash and/or material incentives. During the reporting period REACH-Uganda identified commercial partners with a longer-term vision of how they can benefit under the support offered by the REACH project, without direct cash investments.
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Public-Private Partnerships, Value chains, Climate-smart agriculture