12 Nov 2020

Assistant Minister of Agricultural Development and Food Security, Ms Beauty Manake has told Parliament of the reforms taking place, particularly in view of the challenges experienced in ISPAAD horticulture.

According to Ms Manake, interim measures have been put in place pending the review that will be completed before the end of 2020/2021 financial year.

The measures, she said, included the ISPAAD horticulture component that would be provided at a contribution of 50 per cent government and 50 per cent farmer as either an individual or a group.Additionally, she said this would be implemented through CEDA for efficiency and good business management, noting that an interest-free loan would be available through the National Development Bank.

Other interim measures will include the development of collection centres for horticultural produce, which is being implemented under the Economic Recovery Transformation Plan (ERTP) to assist farmers to have access to markets and reduce post-harvest losses.
 

Ms Manake said since the programme inception in 2010, 315 applications were received under the horticulture programme countrywide, out of which 213 were approved.  She further noted that of the approved projects, 188 were in production.

She further said seven of the applications had been received from Bobirwa, five of which were approved and in production.

The assistant minister, however, noted the challenges of accessing the Horticulture Support Programme, among them being unable to raise 60 per cent of the contribution that they were expected to pay suppliers within the set time of 30 days of approval of the application.

Onother challenge is lack of knowledge by farmers in the preparation of business plans, which leads to most applications being sent back for corrections, thereby losing a lot of time in the process.

MP for Bobonong, Mr Taolo Lucas had asked the minister to state the number of ISPAAD - Horticulture applications country wide and the number of applicants in Bobirwa, the number of approved and those who used the assistance, including some of the challenges of accessing ISPAAD and the remedies. ENDS