Uganda’s horticulture earnings could drop

Government to blame

In April this year, the government announced plans to put in place measures that would ensure that the horticultural exports meet the international sanitary and plant health standards.

“My ministry has put in place rigid and serious interventions to avert and protect our export market through the various measures. I have appointed a national task force comprised of both private sector and my technical staff to specifically guide compliance for flowers, fruits and vegetables exports”, Ssempijja then said.

However, Kanyijje faults government for ‘talking too much’ and doing less. “We don’t have government support,” he said. “It is more of To Whom It May Concern.”

He said the government officials only appear on the ground at the time the EU sends its inspectors to the farmers.

Similarly, Kumar said they have been having a problem of a pest called false codling moth but the government has not stepped in to give guidelines on how to fight it.

“…Everyone (in this industry) do their own research on how to fight such a pest. Those that get frustrated, just leave the business,” he said.

Flower export volumes & earnings

 Fruits and vegetable export volumes and earnings

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