Uganda: Opposition Pushes Contract Farming Bill to Cut 22-30 Percent Crop Losses
[Nile Post] The Opposition in Uganda's 12th Parliament is pushing for a new Contract Farming Bill, a national post-harvest management policy and reforms in agricultural finance as part of efforts to address crop losses estimated at between 22 and 30 per cent.
The opposition in Uganda's 12th Parliament is advocating for a Contract Farming Bill, a comprehensive post-harvest management policy, and reforms in agricultural finance as part of their five-year roadmap for FY2026/27-FY2030/31. The document highlights that Uganda loses between 22 and 30 percent of its crop harvest after harvest, primarily due to insufficient storage and handling systems, and policies that have not kept up with farmers' needs.
The proposed reforms aim to reduce these losses, improve farmers' access to finance and inputs, strengthen agricultural value chains, and enhance household incomes. A key component of these reforms is the Contract Farming Bill, which would establish rules for contract terms, pricing, input provision, insurance, and dispute resolution.
The opposition contends that contract farming is currently inadequately regulated, leaving farmers vulnerable to unfair terms and price disputes. The proposed National Post-Harvest Management Policy, backed by regulations for storage standards, subsidies, and warehouse receipt systems, aims to address losses occurring after harvest, particularly those related to inadequate storage and handling.
The Opposition also proposes a National Agricultural Mechanisation Policy to increase the use of machinery in farming, thereby improving productivity. Additionally, they advocate for a National Tea and Cocoa Policy to bolster these value chains and a National Livestock Identification and Traceability Act to combat counterfeit agricultural inputs.
Written by urgent.news from AllAfrica's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
