By Prossy Nandudu
At the start of August this year, the Uganda National Meteorology Authority (UNMA) announced the onset of rains for the second planting season.
Although they said the rains would appear in different parts of the country in phases of ten days, farmers across the country rushed to agro-dealers to stock up seed.
Unfortunately, farmers didn’t find seed in the agro dealerships. Those who were lucky, bought from the balance of the first planting season.
The most affected areas are districts are Kampala, Wakiso, Mukono Mbale and Masaka while the northern region has already planted because of the early onset of the rains.
According to Lamula Katenda, a farmer from Mukono district, she last visited Container village for seed only to be told that it was out of stock.
“I was looking for Bazooka because it’s tolerant to drought and the grains are always packed on the cob so a farmer benefits more,” said Katende.
Another farmer from Wakiso Phoebe Musiitwa wanted 100 kilograms of seed and was asked to book and wait for a call in from the agro dealer for their seed.
“My prayer is that I get the seed because the money comes from a group. If I don’t deliver, members will assume I misused their money,” Musiitwa wondered.
What could be the problem?
In an interview the Marketing Manager of Naseco Seed Company, one of the biggest suppliers of seed Godfrey Katweere attributed the scarcity of especially maize seed to an increase in the production of maize, after farmers realized that the grain prices continue to rise.
The other reason according to Katweere is that what was supplied in the first season sold out leaving no reserves in store to start off the second planting season.
“In the first season, we produced 4,000 metric tons of seed; the expectation was that only 3,000 metric tons would be consumed and the reserve of 1,000 metric tons would be spared. Unfortunately, all the seed was consumed in the first seasons, creating a gap,” Katweere explained.
And the third reason according to Karweere was due to the fact the harvest of seed that usually takes place in August coincided with the start of the second rainy season, making it hard for seed companies to harvest, dry and process seed for the market in time.
He however explained that at the start of this month, most seed companies have been processing seed and soon the demand for varieties will be in the market.
For NASECO seed, current varieties in the, market include drought tolerant varieties that include DT Max, Bazooka and Longe 10H.Interms of prices, kilo of Bazooka goes for sh6,000, Longe 10H at 8,000 while DT max goes for sh7,500.
In terms of maturity, Longe 10 matures within 120 days and in an acre a farmer can harvest up to28 bags, DT max at 110 days, can harvest 30 bags, Bazooka at 125 days one can harvest 36 bags, explained Katwere.
NRCIS Tumushabe, from FICA seed company attributed the delay in seed supply to the August rains, which he said coincided with onset of the second raining season, hence affecting the drying and processing of seed.
Tumushabe however said there will be seed on the market next week, especially Longe 10H, which is high yielding and drought tolerant but also resistant to some pests and diseases.
Masaka
In an interview with an agro dealer from Masaka.Buddu street, where most sales of seed and agro inputs take place, Hassan Kato Kwitegyeza attributed the demand of the seed to the increased commercial value of maize as a crop.
Kato, who supplies up to Western region including Masaka, said in January maize grain at the Mutukula border was going for between sh2000 and sh25000. And because of continuous sensitization of the need for quality
Mbale
Derick Mayiira an agro dealer from Mbale Agro produce street said they are yet to get seed from seed companies. Because of the scarcity, especially maize seed dealers with old stock are selling a kilo of Bazooka at sh15,000 up from sh6000 while Longe 10H is going for sh15,000 up from sh7000 a kilo when there is no scarcity.
He also attributed the demand to stability of maize grain prices, forcing most farmers in the Elgon region to abandon tomatoes and onion growing due to losses made early this year for maize.
Mayira added that a kilo of maize grain is going for between sh1200 to sh1500 while maize flour has stagnated at sh3000 a kilo.
MAAIF Explains the seed shortage
Edward Erongu, a senior seed inspector from the National Seed Certification Services in the Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries attributed the delayed delivery of seed to three theories.
First are the erratic rains because the first disappeared at time for planting, and have come back time for harvesting.
“That will make it hard to dry. For example in Northern Uganda, farmers have been planting because the rains being experienced are sufficient while some parts are still experiencing the dry season,” Erongu said.
Seed production is not rushed unlike grain, Seed has to go three the normal process where the crop has to attain its maturity age, properly harvested, dried to right temperatures before it can be processed.
Such a process will ensure that the crop’s germination viability is protected and upheld, any slight mishandling, leads to the death of the life or germination potential of the seed.
Estimated demand for seed annually is 13,000 metric tons, which are supplemented by the importation of about 2000 metric tons, according to Erongu.
Government withdrawal from distributing free seedlings
The other reason is that suppliers were dependent on the government, that until last year, would buy seed from seed companies for distribution through NAADS, OWC, where they were sure of payments.
Last year the government decided to move away from supplying free seedlings to allow farmers to purchase their own seed.
“Seed companies also didn’t produce much seed, they wanted to observe the performance of the market without government intervention before they could go back to production of seed in big volumes. Because seed must be sold within the production time to maintain germination potential,” explained Erongu.
He stated that seed production is not rushed unlike grain because it has to go through the normal process where the crop has to attain its maturity age, properly harvested and dried under the right temperatures to maintain the germination features before it can be processed among others.
Other causes of seed scarcity
Although seed scarcity has been attributed to erratic rains, increased demand sources from the farming community alleged that the scarcity was due to the failure by NARO’s commercial arm and Prisons failure to supply foundation seed to seed companies in time for multiplication.
Chris Tanansi Muwanika, General Manager, NARO Holdings Limited the head of NARO holdings disputed the claims, arguing that seed companies haven’t been placing orders for foundation seed since Season B of 2021.
“Pure lie, we always ask them to book in advance which they never did since 2021B.We actually produced seed which have never taken up to now. We recently tested for germination and realized it’s no longer productive and plans are underway to be destroyed.,” Muwanika Clarified.
According to Muwanika in addition to reasons for maize seed scarcity, he attributed it to drought in the month of May.
“Late planting was due to late rains that appeared in April meaning that seed had to be harvested in August. If seed had been planted in March, it would have been harvested in the month of July, in time for the second season,” Muwanika explained.
