Gudie Leisure farm puts focus on boosting cereal production

6 February 2024, 11:03 am

Byamukama Alozious

In the efforts to boot cereal production of cereals, Gudie leisure farm has come up with the training strategies to guide youths on production, this comes as the production is facing a terrible backslide yet cereals like maize is one of the staple crops grown in Uganda, providing over 45.0% of the country’s daily calorie consumption. To meet the domestic demand, most farmers grow maize on their farmland. According to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization, Uganda’s fertile agricultural land has the potential to feed 200 million people. Eighty PTO cent of Uganda’s land is arable, but only 35% is cultivated.

Today, Over 200 youths from different districts convened at Gudie Leisure farm for the cereal training symposium, the youths representatives came from Isingiro, Arua,Tororo, Nandwandwa among other 25 districts  they operate  

‘’We wants youths to get extensive knowledge on cereal production, value chain, quality and registration of business and have invited URSB , NARO  among others to guide them ‘’ prof. Gudula Basaza, founder Gudie Leisure farm said at the opening.

The Uganda Grains Market size is estimated at USD 4.45 billion in 2024, and is expected to reach USD 5.43 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 4.10% during the forecast period (2024-2029). Grains grown in Uganda include maize, millet, sorghum, rice, and wheat

In March 2021, restrictions were imposed on maize importation by Kenya due to the low-quality standards of maize produced by Uganda, but the ban was lifted in May 2021. After the ban, the export quality and quantity improved. Only grain exports tested and certified by accredited labs in Uganda to meet acceptable safety levels are permitted into Kenya, which is expected to stimulate market growth during the forecast period

Source: https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/grains-market-in-ugandaS

In 2021, only 1.86 USDS was obtained form exportation of cereals, Rice made 95% while in the year 2018 2.4UGD was obtained , there has been a reduction which resulted from Price fluctuations, Covid19 climate change among others  

Regionally, Bunyoro dominates the production of maize as it produced 8300 tones, Buganda 6000 tones, Karamoja 28 tones whereas kigezi produced only tones in 2021.

The experts advice that there is much to do with other regions like Ankole, kigezi and Karomoja where production is tool low despite the mentioned challenges

According to the International Trade Administration, in 2021-2022, agriculture accounted for about 24.1% of GDP and 33% of export earnings. In recent years, there has been an increase in exports of maize to East African countries. The liberalized free trade environment between East African countries benefits the maize traders, leading to a rise in exports.

Dr. Kagoda Frank, the principle researcher at National Agricultural Research Organization NARO said for the millet, production remains very low regardless of its nutritious importance among others. “millet is orphan crop it has no much focus, we want the collective efforts boost its production its production, that’s media, Government and private sector’’ Kagoda said.

Mr.Johnson Abitekaniza, Acting Commissioner business development and quality assurance, Ministry of trade industry and cooperatives, says the government has put some good policies which can guide the youths who want or who are producing cereals which among them is small and scale business policy thought according to Him before reaching the policy level the starters must first ensure quality assurance from production to consumer lever. He adds that youths must network amongst themselves if they are to benefit in terms of trainings for money economy.  “You cannot be producing 25kg for maize and seek export knowledge, you must learn about agro business, value chains and through the networks