The Executive Director of National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS), Executive Director NAADS Dr. Samuel Mugasi has said that construction of more grain storage facilities will help on addressing post-harvest losses eradication as well as improve value addition in the selected parts of the country.
Mugasi made the remarks on Monday April 26 while addressing maize farmers in Kigumba sub county in Kiryandongo district during the handover of a new modern grain storage facility which was constructed by Government through the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) in partnership with World Food Programme (WFP) and the District Local Government.
The grain store worth UGX 215 million with a capacity of 300 metric tons is the second storage facility constructed by Government for farmers in Kiryandongo one of the leading maize growing districts in Uganda. The first one was given to maize farmers in Mutunda Sub County.
The initiative is aimed at addressing identified gaps in food storage capacity, post-harvest losses eradication, value addition and collective marketing systems.
It is also hoped that this will improve access to agro-inputs in selected parts of the country.
The intervention is in line with government initiative to reduce post-harvest losses and improve on the quality of grain produced in Uganda.
Government through NAADS provided the funding for the establishment of the store and capacity building for the farmers while WFP implemented the construction of the community store through procurement of the contracts and supervision.
Farmers who spoke to Parrots UG expressed gratitudes to the Government and WFP for the support saying it will help to eliminate crook middlemen in maize trade.
Uganda is currently producing close to 5 million metric tons of maize annually, however, there are still gaps in storage capacity of this maize with the current storage facilities accommodating only 800,000 metric tons.
Government has so far constructed twelve modern grain facilities in 11 districts of Hoima, Masindi, Adjumani, Kyegegwa, Mubende, Kyenjojo, Kiboga, Kibaale, Nakaseke, Napak and Kiryandongo with plans to construct more in maize growing districts.
