Uganda Agricultural News and Research Digest – October 10th
Regional economic integration good for Uganda - Deputy Governor Bank of Uganda
New Vision
Regional economic integration can help Uganda to break out of this low productivity equilibrium through several channels, Deputy Governor Bank of Uganda Louis Kasekende has said. According to Kasekende, access to regional markets offers a stepping stone for Ugandan producers to begin exporting, without first having to become globally competitive. “Ugandan exports to our East African Community (EAC) partners are not subject to tariffs whereas competing goods from outside of the EAC are subject to the common external tariff,” said Kasekende.
Kenya cuts maize inflows and ups wheat imports
Coastweek
Kenya has reduced its maize imports from neighboring countries due to increase in harvests, a report from the country’s ministry of agriculture on food security situation showed on Tuesday. The report indicated Kenya slashed its maize imports in August to 271,575 90kg bags through cross-border trade from its neighbors from 548,020 bags in July. The imports mainly came from Uganda and Tanzania , Kenya ’s biggest trading partners in the region.
Africa urged to explore scientific research to boost food security
Nzweek
A top researcher has called on African countries to invest in agricultural scientist research so as to mitigate the effects and situations that endanger food security. International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) Director General Dr. Reuben Echeverria said investing in the latest research will bring about the necessity to increase production and competitiveness while respecting sustainable development in the framework of global governance.
World Bank issues this year's World Development Report: Jobs
The World Bank
On 1 October, the World Bank issued this year’s WDR, which focuses on jobs. The report stresses the role of strong private sector led growth in creating jobs and outlines how jobs that do the most for development can spur a virtuous cycle. Poverty falls as people work their way out of hardship and as jobs empower women to invest more in their children. Efficiency increases as workers get better at what they do, as more productive jobs appear, and as less productive ones disappear. Societies flourish as jobs foster diversity and provide alternatives to conflict. “A good job can change a person’s life, and the right jobs can transform entire societies. Governments need to move jobs to center stage to promote prosperity and fight poverty,” says World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim, "It's critical that governments work well with the private sector, which accounts for 90 percent of all jobs. Therefore, we need to find the best ways to help small firms and farms grow. Jobs equal hope. Jobs equal peace. Jobs can make fragile countries become stable."
Agricultural and food policy research
Note that if you experience any trouble in downloading any of these research documents, you can contact us by return e-mail for assistance. We can offer no guarantees that we will be able to provide the document, but we may have other avenues to pursue to assist you.
T Kisauzi, MN Mangheni, H Sseguya, B Bashaasha - African Crop Science Journal, 2012
Perceptions and knowledge play a key role in shaping individual and collective response to climate change. Understanding gender dimensions of climate change perceptions and knowledge contributes to effective climate change adaptation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate male and female farmers’ perceptions, knowledge as well as its (knowledge) determinants with respect to climate change in the Teso sub-region, eastern Uganda. Data from male- and female-headed households were analysed using descriptive statistics, Chi-Square, linear and multinomial logistic regression. Results showed that all farmers, men and women, were aware of climate change.
D Nabikolo, B Bashaasha, MN Mangheni et al, - African Crop Science Journal, 2012
Adaptation is considered an appropriate response to climate change and variability, especially for the smallholder farmers. However, the response decisions and actions of male and female farmers may be influenced by various factor and factor combinations that are not adequately understood. We hypothesized that both male and female farmers are climate change conscious and responsive; and that there is a gender dimension to the choice of a climate change adaptation strategy. We utilised a combination of descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis to study the factors that influence the choice of a decision to adapt to a climate change scenario. Using cross-sectional data collected from 136 households in eastern Uganda, we undertook the analysis at two levels; pooled sample analysis and a gender disaggregated analysis. Contrary to perceived wisdom and evidence from other empirical studies, the factors that influence the climate change adaptation decision vary considerably between male and female household heads.
