By Wilfred Sanya
The agriculture minister, Frank Tumwebaze, has recommended the promotion of Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) in the fight against foot and mouth disease (FMD) along the borders.
Tumwebaze said PPPs help the private sector to create more job opportunities and carry out business with more professionals.
The FMD is a transboundary animal disease in East Africa causing economic losses to farmers and other stakeholders in the livestock industry, it occurs widely in both Uganda and Tanzania.
Tumwebaze said increased innovation and involvement of PPPs will bring more stakeholders and beneficiaries to have lasting solutions.
Tumwebaze urged Uganda and Tanzania to come up with recommendations to fight the diseases so that people increase rearing animals as an economic source.
He made the remarks during the training organized by the United States of Development on Agriculture (USDA) under the Trace project on foot and mouth disease at Kabira Country Club.
He revealed that when he joined the ministry they identified six major challenges affecting the sector.
“We identified research and mechanization as key priority and we are progressing well to overcome the challenges in the sector. Let us avoid tendencies of mixing issues and let focus on growth,” he said.
Prof. Heron Nonga, Director Veterinary Services Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries Tanzania, revealed they have livestock of over 36 million cattle, 26 million goats, and 10 million sheep.
Nonga said the animals contribute to the country’s economic development and should not be allowed to succumb to FMG.
The FMG is a very tricky disease that affects animals that feed on grass and carnivores, it causes big losses and governments should carry out joint vaccination programs to eliminate it, he said.
He alluded that an improved breed of cattle would produce more milk products and meat for export.
“Back home local people prefer the Zebu cattle because they easily recover from FMD in three days without being treated. This makes the farmers not see any incentive to vaccinate their animals yet FMD affects Wildlife that interface at the border areas,” Nonga said.
“The persistence of FMD has continued due to inadequate vaccine coverage and the farmers have not taken it this seriously. The international market does not buy meat from animals coming from FMD areas,” he explained.
“We received meat orders to supply China but failed to certify the international market because of FMD. South Africans gave us orders of 50,000 tons of meat every month but we failed to supply, including Middle East and Asia markets,” he explained.
The Chief of Party for United States of Development on Agriculture (USDA), in charge of the Trace project, Martha Byanyima, said they have resources to ensure government fulfilment of the EAC protocols.
Byanyima said a mechanism should be made to fight Transboundary diseases and offer solutions hindering the growth of trade along the EA boundaries.
“The EAC exports are constrained by a lack of transport management system associated with agriculture to meet both local and international standards,” Byanyima said.
She called on the two countries to boost PPPs in order to implement protocols agreed upon by the EAC to improve both local and international trade. She said agriculture remains the main driver for our economic livelihood and growth.
The FMD is an extremely important element for our economic growth and it should be managed efficiently, she added.
Uganda has 80 percent arable land but only 35 percent is being cultivated. In 2021/22, agriculture accounted for about 24 percent of GDP, and 33 percent of export earnings according to Uganda Bureaus of Standards (UBOS). 70 percent of Ugandans are employed in the agricultural sector.
Presidential Advisor Exports and Imports Committee (PACEID), Odrek Rwabwogo said the COVID pandemic taught that you cannot work alone to have a successful business.
Rwabwogo observed the need to involve PPPs because they play a key role in building and expanding business initiatives.
He recommended that legally credible research be utilised before businesses proceed into the market.
The Executive Director Public Private Partnership (PPPs) Ministry of Finance, Jim Mugunga said Government is ready to support willing players to use PPPs to increase development in agriculture.
Mugunga said the government pulled out of direct participation in business and left it to the private sector.
The Government established the PPPs Act in 2015 to regulate the development and implementation. The act provides for the PPPs processes and information on the procurement rules and methods that apply to it” He said.
While reading the recommendation Dr. Ronoh Tuismilsing, a consultant on PPPs said governments should revisit and harmonise the current laws.
Recommendation on FMD
Dr. Tuismilsing said members should have a joint vaccination program to prevent the foot and mouth. Dr. Tuismilsing said member states agreed to increase budget allocations.
He said this will mandate diagnosis for animals being transported across the borders with an effective mode of transport.
The parties agreed to use PPPs to build cold rooms and have systems to see that meat does not go bad. They agreed to develop an inventory system to monitor the movement of the livestock and trace animals for diagnosis and vaccination.
Research on FMD effect in Uganda
Dr Justine Okello Makerere University under retrospective study in 2021 said FMD outbreaks were seasonal at the peak in November and low in August.
22,690 FMD cases were reported in Uganda between 2010 and 2021 with an average of 37 outbreaks per year respectively. The FMD was reported at least once in 58 districts (43 percent of Uganda.
Okello’s research revealed that FMD was reported 45 percent Eastern, 38 percent (8,685) from Western region, 6 percent (1,354) from Northern region, and 11 percent (2,440) from Central region.
