Understanding the rice value chain in Uganda - opportunities and challenges to increased production

Abstract

Government of Uganda considers rice as one of the strategic agricultural enterprises with the potential to remarkably contribute to increasing rural incomes and livelihoods, and improving food and nutrition security. However, current rice yields are remarkably low, a situation partly attributed to the fact that farmers hardly use agro-inputs such as improved seed, fertilisers and herbicides, which would otherwise boost yields. Low rice yields lower farm incomes from rice production, which partly contribute to the poor and declining performance of the agriculture sector. It is reported in the 2010/112014/15 National Development Plan that one of the major constraints to the performance of the agriculture sector is weak value chain linkages from production, processing and marketing; and limited extension support. The current study focuses on rice and assesses the constraints and opportunities for intensification along the value chain, as one of the strategies to accelerate growth of the agriculture sector.