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Uganda’s Finance Minister Allocates Shs4 Billion for Seed Distribution to Farmers

by Uganda Times

The Honorable Matia Kasaija, Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, has promised to allocate Shs4 billion for the distribution of seeds to farmers. This commitment was made in response to a directive from Speaker Anita Among to provide a statement on the seed distribution issue during the plenary sitting on Thursday, March 30, 2023.

Kasaija informed the parliament that only Shs4 billion was required for seed procurement for MPs to distribute to farmers in the previous season. He further stated that the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) will receive the allocated funds, and suppliers of the seeds will be contacted, and distribution points identified.

The Speaker has given Kasaija one week to ensure that the seeds are distributed, as it is currently planting season. Honorable Frank Tumwebaze, Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), stated that written permission to the accounting officers of NAADS would be sufficient if the money is not available soon.

Tumwebaze clarified that seed procurement and distribution for all districts is now done under the Parish Development Model (PDM) and not by NAADS.

He explained that the Ministry of Finance withdrew the budget previously used by the Ministry of Agriculture and its agencies like NAADS to provide seeds and consolidated it to support the first pillar under the PDM.

The money was kept by the Ministry of Finance to be disbursed directly to the PDM savings groups. Consequently, MAAIF and its agencies no longer provide seed due to policy and lack of funds.

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