February 14, 2023
The 2022 TASAI Uganda Country Report summarizes the findings of the TASAI study conducted in Uganda in 2022 by the TASAI team and two local seed industry experts. The results highlight some positive developments since the last TASAI study in 2020. For maize, bean, millet, and sorghum, Uganda’s formal seed system most closely resembles the growth stage of development. However, the industry still faces constraints that stifle continued growth.
Under the research and development category, the study noted slight improvements. The number of active breeders for the four focus crops increased from 10 in 2019 to 13 in 2021. In addition, the satisfaction ratings for the overall availability of basic seed over the years improved steadily and this coincided with the entry of alternative basic seed producers, especially for maize and bean. However, the entire seed value chain was adversely affected by the COVID-19 lockdown. In the industry competitiveness category, between 2019 and 2021, the number of active seed companies increased from 23 to 28 for maize, and from 17 to 24 for bean. Despite these slight improvements, public breeding programs were constrained due to insufficient funding from the government as well as donor projects. Moreover, several funded projects have ended or are expected to end soon. In line with these challenges, the number of varieties released declined from 38 (2017-2019) to 23 (2019-2021).
Uganda’s seed policy environment improved with the launch of the first client-managed National Performance Trials (NPTs) under the direct supervision of the National Seed Certification Service (NSCS). In addition, breeders were highly satisfied with the variety release system of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) given its shorter duration and lower cost. However, between 2019 and 2021, seed companies’ level of satisfaction with government enforcement of seed regulations declined from good (60%) in 2019 to fair (52%) in 2021. Most seed companies felt that while the seed regulatory framework was clear, its implementation lacked adequate checks and balances as well as human and financial capital. Further, several policy instruments are awaiting approval or implementation.
Satisfaction ratings with government efforts to address counterfeit seed also declined from 57% in 2019 to 51% in 2021. Although the government and the private sector have initiated several initiatives to combat the vice, seed companies expressed that they wanted more punitive measures levied on perpetrators. Since 2017, sales to the seed subsidy component of the Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) program have declined. However, between 2019-2021seed companies’ level of satisfaction with the government seed subsidy program improved along three aspects – the transparency of the award process, the predictability of the procurement process, and the efficiency of payments. This increase was due to changes made by the program. These changes aimed to share the procurement order across all eligible applicants, the awarding of framework contracts, and prompt payments after the supporting documentation had been submitted.
Under institutional support, the level of satisfaction for the overall performance of the Uganda Seed Trade Association (USTA) continued to be “good” but declined slightly from 67% in 2019 to 65% in 2021. However, in the same period, USTA enhanced its advocacy, promotional activities, and training for private seed inspectors, extension workers, and agro-dealers. The number of government seed inspectors rose from 14 in 2019 to 21 in 2021 and an additional 104 extension workers were trained as para seed inspectors, who are scheduled to start working early 2023. However, the NSCS believes that the effectiveness of the current 21 inspectors could be enhanced with greater access to vehicles and fuel to improve their mobility. Seed companies expressed that they would like to see the authorization of private seed inspectors, a decentralized inspection workforce, and greater use of ICT to ease service delivery to smallholder farmers.
The government extension workforce did not change between 2019 and 2021. However, the number of private extension workers nearly tripled over this period. This trend is expected to improve when the agricultural extension bill which aims to pave the way for the certification of private extension workers is passed into law.
The report was published following a successful dissemination meeting in Kampala, Uganda on December 7th and 8th 2022, where findings were validated and discussed by members of Uganda’s public and private seed sectors.
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