The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) recently signed a $5 million contract for support from the Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherl ands to start a project entitled: “Policy Action for Sustainable Intensification of Ug andan Cropping Systems (PASIC)”.
PASIC will strengthen the capacity of the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) in setting policies and actions for agricultural intensification in two zones – the south western Highl ands for Irish potatoes and the Lake Kioga plains in Eastern Ug anda for rice.
In these zones, population pressure is high, farm sizes are small (less than 2 ha), and the options to put new l and into production are rather limited, which makes traditional farming no longer sustainable.
His Excellency Alphons Hennekens noted that “The inevitable solution lies in the intensification of cropping systems by using fertilizers, improved seeds, good agronomic practices and attracting investors for buying farmers’ produce”.
Together with key stakeholders from both the public and private sectors, the project will carry out a rigorous evaluation research to identify high-return investment opportunities and the constraints and bottle necks along the value chains.
“PASIC will generate vital knowledge and evidence for decision makers to plan public investments and attract responsible private entities,” Piet Van Asten, IITA country representative in Ug anda noted.
The brief ceremony held in Kampala, Ug anda, on 11 October, was witnessed by among others the Minister of Agriculture Hon. Tress Bucyanay andi, and Victor Manyong, IITA Director for Eastern Africa.
Honourable Tress Bucyanay andi, welcomed the initiative saying it was in line with country’s economic development strategy. “Through sustainable intensification of cropping systems, PASIC directly contributes to increased rural incomes and household food security, the two objectives of our Development Strategy and Investment Plan (DSIP)”, he said.
The four-year project will be managed by IITA in partnership with MAAIF, as the lead agency guiding public agricultural development efforts in the country; the Economic Policy Research Centre (EPRC), the leading policy think-tank in Ug anda, and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
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For more information, please contact: Catherine Njuguna, c.njuguna@cgiar.org
About IITA www.iita.org
The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) is one of the world’s leading research partners in finding solutions for hunger, malnutrition, and poverty. Its award-winning research for development (R4D) approach addresses the development needs of tropical countries. IITA works with partners to enhance crop quality and productivity, reduce producer and consumer risks, and generate wealth from agriculture. IITA is a non-profit organization founded in 1967 in Nigeria and governed by a Board of Trustees. IITA works on the following crops: cowpea, soybean, banana/plantain, yam, cassava, and maize. IITA is a member of CGIAR, a global agriculture research partnership for a food secure future.
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