Development partners who support the Agricultural sector in Uganda are unhappy with the way government pampers companies supplying fake seeds to farmers.
Representatives from International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), United Sates Agency for International Development (USAID), Netherlands Cooperation, World Bank, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), European Union (EU), Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Deparrtment for International Development (DFID), World Food Programme (WFP), French Embassy and Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) among others expressed their disappointment while meeting with the minister of Agriculture, Vincent Bamulangaki Ssempijja at FAO offices in Kampala.
Speaking on behalf of the international bodies, the FAO, Uganda Country representative, Alhaji Momodou Jallow, asked government to put in place laws that punish those companies which supply fake seeds to farmers.
Donors also discussed the need for government to start distributing free farm inputs to farmers, and the need for the ministry of agriculture to bring private sector on board, especially those with big chunks of land .
The meeting was aimed at discussing ways on how to finalize the formulation and approval of the irrigation policy, the strategies for strengthening certification and regulation of the agricultural inputs market (fake seeds), and the need to strengthen agricultural extension and advisory services countrywide.