Input distribution to farmers continues amidst the COVID 19 scare


Uganda reported its first case of COVID-19 on March 22nd, 2020 and immediately after, H.E the President of Uganda ordered restrictions on movement of people, cars, motor cycles and closure of shops and all non-food stores for 14 days to contain the spread of COVID 19. The immediate impact of the shut- down was the survival of most citizens whose livelihoods depend on daily income, small businesses and subsistence farming. In addition, production, supply and demand to the markets slowed down thus threatening food security during both the lockdown period and post lockdown.

The directive also brought to a halt the distribution of inputs in the districts, yet under the e-subsidy program, farmers had already paid their contributions towards the costs of Inputs. The Ministry of
agriculture through ACDP had also topped up subsidies to the accredited agro-input dealers to provide inputs to farmers. At the time of the presidential directive, most of the farmers were yet to receive their inputs.

Agriculture in Uganda depends on natural rainfall patterns and if the lockdown persists, farmers will miss a whole year of income and food. It was also estimated that more than 50% of the gardens would not be planted, if farmers did not receive their inputs during this planting season resulting into food shortages for the rest of the year. On the input market side, various Agro-input dealers would lose business. It is also expected that post corona will be worse if our food security is compromised. 

Farmer washes hands before receiving inputs- Ntungamo district
It is against this background that the Agriculture Cluster Development Project Coordination unit found it imperative to continue with input distribution, while observing the presidential directives and the standard operating guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health and other relevant authorities.
 
Farmer carries off their input- Bumbaire  sub-county- Bushenyi district
ACDP/MAAIF teams have continued to work with the District teams to distribute inputs to farmers with permission from the respective Resident District Commissioners.


The ACDP Project Coordination Unit extends its sincere gratitude and applauds all the ACDP/MAAIF Clusters Coordinators, District agricultural and Extension officers, the Resident District Commissioners, security organs, UBA officers, the farmers and all stakeholders who put service above self and enabled the distribution exercise to continue despite the COVID 19 scare.

 



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