The National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) has kicked off the distribution of 76 metric tons of sunflower oil seeds to farmers in the Lango and Acholi sub-regions of Uganda.
This effort is part of an initiative to boost local vegetable oil production and reduce the country’s reliance on imports. The seeds have been designated for 62 farmer cooperatives and 10 larger-scale farmers as part of a co-funding arrangement.
In this co-funding setup, farmers contribute 30% of the cost of the seeds, while the government covers the remaining 70%.
This strategy aims to make it more affordable for farmers to access the necessary planting materials. Dr. Charles Aben, the Crop Development Officer at NAADS, emphasized that this distribution aligns with the government’s ongoing push to increase vegetable oil production, which began in 2022.
According to Dr. Aben, the country’s annual consumption of vegetable oil is a staggering 480 million metric tons (MT), but only a meager 80,000 MT is produced within Uganda.
The rest is imported. The vegetable oil industry comprises 104 factories, each with a daily production capacity of 3,000 MT, adding up to a total of 1.1 billion kilograms of grains per year. However, current local production is low, with small rural farmers being vital players in the sector.
The move to distribute sunflower oil seeds to farmers is a step towards bridging this production gap. Previously, local oil seed producers faced challenges due to high prices of planting materials.
Dr. Aben highlighted that in the northern regions, 56 farmer cooperatives and 14 larger farms are set to receive sunflower seeds during this planting season.
This effort seeks to empower local farmers and promote sustainable vegetable oil production. With farmers covering 30% of the costs and the government, through NAADS, covering the remaining 70%, the initiative aims to make oil seed cultivation economically feasible and viable for the farming community.
Ultimately, the hope is that increased local production will help address Uganda’s vegetable oil shortage and strengthen the agricultural sector.
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