Aquaculture Policy review Uganda - The RUAF Foundation

87 Pages·2009·0.96 MB·English

EC FP7 Project Contract number: 213143

SARNISSA: Sustainable Aquaculture Research Networks in Sub Saharan Africa

Start Date: February 1st 2008 Duration: 36 months

Title: Assessment of National A quaculture Policies and
Programmes in Uganda

Author(s): Nelly Isyagi, Gertrude Atukunda, Lucy Aliguma,
Maurice Ssebisubi, Walakira John, Godfrey
Kubiriza and Emmanuel Mbulameri.
EAGO Consultants, Uganda.

Date of Publication: June 2009

Author contact address: Email [email protected]

Project website address: http://www.sarnissa.org

Keywords : Aquaculture, Policy, Review, Uganda.

Note:

1. This document is one of a series of 10 sub Saharan African analytical in-
country aquaculture policy reviews produced by the SARNISSA project in
2009. All of these reviews can be viewed and downloaded from the
www.sarnissa.org website.

2. The views and opinions stated in this review are those of the authors and not
necessarily those of the SARNISSA project or the EC.

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TITLE : Sustainable Aquaculture Research Networks in Sub Saharan Africa
COORDINATOR
UNIVERSITY OF STIRLING Dr Little, David
Institute of Aquaculture E Mail: [email protected]
Stirling TEL :[phone]
FK9 4LA FAX : [phone]
UK

CONTRACTORS
CENTRE de COOPERATION INTERNATIONALE Dr Jérôme Lazard
en RECHERCHE AGRONOMIQUE pour le Tel. + 33-4-67046365
DEVELOPPEMENT, Fax + 33-4-67635795
Dept PERSYST/UR Aquaculture E-mail: [email protected]
BP. 5095 TA B – 20 /01, Montpellier Cedex 1, 34033,
France

WORLD FISH CENTRE (CAIRO), Dr Randy Brummett
IITA Humid Forest Center BP, 2008 (MESSA), Tel. + 237-2237-434
Yaounde 11278 Fax [phone]
Cameroon E-mail: [email protected]

CAB INTERNATIONAL, Dr Gareth Richards
Nosworthy Way, Tel. [phone]
Wallingford, Fax [phone]
OX10 8DE E-mail: [email protected]
United Kingdom

ASIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, Ram C. Bhujel
58 Moo 9 KM4L, Paholythin, Highway Klong Nueng, Tel. [phone]
Klong Luang, Pathumthani 12120, Thailand Fax [phone]
E-mail: [email protected]

BUNDA COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY OF MALAWI, Dr Emmanuel Kaunda
Bunda College, Lilongwe, Tel. + 265-1-277-240
Box 219, Malawi Fax [phone]
E-mail: [email protected]
INSTITUT de RECHERCHE AGRICOLE pour le Dr Victor Pouomogne
DEVELOPPMENT, Tel. + 237-22-23-3538
IRAD, BP 2067/2123 Yaounde, Cameroon Fax [phone]
E-mail: [email protected]

ETC FOUNDATION Marielle Dubbeling

Kastanjelaan 5, Leusden, 3833AN, Tel. + 33-565-741951
Netherlands Fax + 31-33-4940791
E-mail: [email protected]

PRINCIPAL SUBCONTRACTOR

Moi University Dr Charles Ngugi
PO Box 3900 Tel: [phone], 63206
Eldoret, Fax: [phone], 63257
Kenya E-mail: [email protected]

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Executive Summary

The SARNISSA project aims to build a sustainable aquaculture research network with a
focus on Sub-Saharan Africa with the objective of empowering aquaculture stakeholders, to
contribute to sustainable aquaculture development across the region and enhance knowledge
exchange in aquaculture.
The project is in a process of implementing a review of national policies and programmes
regarding aquaculture in the Sub-Saharan Africa Region that involves all stakeholders.
A review study was done for Uganda on aquaculture national policies, sector policies as
well as programmes involving interviews with key persons responsible for the formulation
and implementation of various policies, plans and programmes. This paper has revealed the
Strengths and Weaknesses of these existing national policies, plans and programmes on
aquaculture.
Results indicate that the natural resource potential for aquaculture in Uganda is favorable
and fish farming can therefore, be undertaken across most of the country.
Uganda’s first objective for aquaculture was nutrition. Years later, the overall national
development goals were food security and poverty alleviation thereby shifting farmers’
objectives to gaining an income from fish farming. Currently these development goals are
defined in the ‘Plan for Modernisation of Agriculture’.
Most of aquaculture in Uganda is done in ponds, the average size 500m2. The current
estimated number of ponds is over 15,000. Fish production in cages and tanks has also been
started. The country has individual, cooperate and company owned fish farms and hatcheries
for mostly tilapia and catfish. These are located around the country and supply seed, table fish
and broodstock. Commercial feeds are now available in the country and a number of business
have also started supplying aquaculture inputs.
The market for farmed fish products has been mainly farmer to consumer but commercial
farming has seen processors buy table size fish from farmers to process for the regional
market for over US$3 per kg. Hatcheries likewise serve farmers and the bait market whose
demand is over 300 million fingerlings/year around Lake Victoria.
Aquaculture in Uganda has a range of significant actors. The central government sets up
policies for aquaculture, development frameworks and strategies and well as the legal and
institutional framework for implementation. International agencies provide mainly financial
and technical support to the central government and its institutions. Lake Victoria Fisheries
Organisation (LVFO) is now setting and harmonizing regional policy on fisheries and
aquaculture for East Africa. Local governments provide technical services to farmers and
coordinate national project activities. National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO)
and National Agricultural Advisory Services (National Agricultural Advisory Services)
undertake research and technology dissemination respectively. Non government organizations
(NGO), Community based organisations (CBO), Tertiary institutions and private companies
are also stakeholders in Uganda’s aquaculture.
The country has a fisheries policy which outlines aquaculture in general terms but it also
has institutional frameworks, plans and programmes under which aquaculture falls, notably;
the Poverty Eradication Action Plan (PEAP) and the Plan for Modernization of Agriculture
(PMA) which houses the National Agricultural Advisory Services.
There are several other policies, programmes and plans relating to different aspects of
aquaculture derived from and based upon the basic principles aimed at poverty eradication but
these cannot replace the need for an independent aquaculture policy.
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In summary, there is need for a specific aquaculture policy for Uganda with clear
implementation frameworks and strategies.
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Table of Contents

Executive Summary ....................................................................................................... iv
Table of Contents ........................................................................................................... vi
List of Tables ................................................................................................................ vii
List of Figures ............................................................................................................... vii
List of Acronyms.......................................................................................................... viii
1.0. Background ........................................................................................................... 1
1.1. Objectives of Study ................................................................................................ 1
2.0. Methodology ......................................................................................................... 2
2.1. The conceptual framework ...................................................................................... 2
2.2. Methods Used ......................................................................................................... 2
2.3. Data Analysis ......................................................................................................... 3
3.0. Description of the Characteristics of the Aquaculture Sector in Uganda........... 5
3.1. The Aquaculture Farming Systems ......................................................................... 7
3.2. Actors in the Sector .............................................................................................. 26
3.3. Impacts of Aquaculture ......................................................................................... 31
4.0. Description of the Current Institutional Frameworks, Policies, Plans and
Programmes on Rural, Peri-Urban and Urban Aquaculture ........................... 37
4.1. The Fisheries Policy ............................................................................................. 37
4.2. National Institutional Frameworks ........................................................................ 41
5.0. Strengths and Weaknesses of Existing National Policies, Plans and
Programmes on Aquaculture ........................................................................... 50
6.0. Opportunities and Proposals for the Improvement of Existing Policies,
Plans and Programmes ................................................................................. 58
7.0. Restrictions and Opportunities Contained in Other Sectoral Policies, Plans
and Programmes; Possibilities for harmonisation ............................................ 59
8.0. Gaps, Needs and Priorities for a Future National Research and
Development Agenda on Aquaculture ............................................................... 61
References ..................................................................................................................... 68
Appendices....................................................................................................................72

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List of Tables

Table 2.1: Major locations where interviews were conducted. ........................................ 2
Table 2.2: Number of Stakeholder Interviews Conducted ................................................ 3
Table 3.1: Major Sources of Aquaculture Inputs for Farmers ......................................... 14
Table 3.2: Major Private Fish Hatcheries. ..................................................................... 16
Table 3.3: Fish Demand For Bait Production ................................................................ 18
Table 3.4: Potential Feed Demand For Uganda ............................................................. 18
Table 3.5: Definitions of Size Categories Used for Table Fish ....................................... 20
Table 3.6: Typical Total Variable Cost Structure (%) for Grow-Out Operations ............ 25
Table 3.7. Feed Costs ................................................................................................... 25
Table 3.8: Aquaculture projects over the years and their objectives. .............................. 27
Table 3.9: Aquaculture Farmer Field Schools ............................................................... 30
Table 4.1: Policy Analysis (Fisheries Policy) ................................................................. 37
Table 4.2: Strengths and weaknesses identified in the national policies, plans and
programmes, on aquaculture .......................................................................... 50
List of Figures

Figure 3.1: Map of Uganda showing Districts as in 2008. .............................................. 6
Figure 3.2: Number of operational fish ponds over the years ......................................... 9
Figure 3.3: Aquaculture yield (metric tons) over the years. .......................................... 13
Figure 3.4: Market Chains for Fish Fingerlings ............................................................. 20
Figure 3.5: Market Chains for Catfish Bait .................................................................... 20
Figure 3.6: Market Chains for Table size Tilapia .......................................................... 22
Figure 3.7: Market Chains for Table size Catfish .......................................................... 22
Figure 3.8: Distribution of major market outlets for table size Catfish. ......................... 23
Figure 3.9: Distribution of major market outlets for table size Tilapia. .......................... 23
Figure 3.10: Major product categories of Table Size Catfish as sold from farms ........... 24
Figure 3.11: Major product categories of Table Size Tilapia as sold from farms ........... 24
Figure 3.12: General Illustrations of Roles of the Different Actors and their Major
Linkages ................................................................................................... 26
Figure 8.1: Appropriate interaction between aquaculture stakeholders .......................... 64

Appendices

APPENDIX I: Check List used for Stakeholder Interviews ............................................ 71
APPENDIX II: Names and Contacts of People interviewed ........................................... 72
APPENDIX III: Contact Details of fish Hatcheries ....................................................... 75
APPENDIX IV: Web Details of Cited Institutions and Organisations ............................ 77
APPENDIX V: Contact Details of Cited Farmers’ Groups ............................................ 78
APPENDIX VI: The Research Team ............................................................................. 79
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List of Acronyms
ARDC Aquaculture Research and Development Center
ARTP Agricultural Research and Training Project
CBO Community Based Organization
DANIDA Danish International Development Assistance
DFID Department for International Development
DFR Department of Fisheries Resources
EU European Union
FAO Food and Agriculture Organization
GDP Gross Domestic Product
GoU Government of Uganda
HARE Headstart Agricultural Research and Extension
LVEMP Lake Victoria Environment Management Project
MAAIF Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries
MAPS Marketing and Agro-processing Strategy
MFIs Micro Finance Institutions
MFPED Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development
MSMEs Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
MTTI Ministry of Tourism, Trade and Industry
NAADS National Agricultural Advisory Services
NARS National Agricultural Research System
NARO National Agricultural Research Organization
NEPAD New Partnership for Africa’s Development
NES National Export Strategy
NGO Non Governmental Organization
PEAP Poverty Eradication Action Plan
PMA Plan for Modernization of Agriculture
UNDP United Nations Development Programme
USAID United States Agency for International Development

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1.0. Background
The SARNISSA project aims at building a sustainable aquaculture research network
between Europe and Africa, with a focus on Sub-Saharan Africa. The research
network will contribute to knowledge-based aquaculture development, building on an
existing knowledge platform, the ‘Aquaculture Compendium’. SARNISSA is a
consortium of 8 project partners mainly from Africa and Europe namely; Institute of
Aquaculture, University of Stirling (co-ordinator UK), CIRAD (France), World Fish
Center (Egypt), CABI (UK), Asian Institute of Technology (Thailand), Bunda
College of Agriculture (Malawi), IRAD (Cameroon), and ETC Foundation (The
Netherlands).

The overall objectives of SARNISSA are:
1. To empower aquaculture stakeholders, from researchers to end users across
Sub-Saharan Africa, to contribute and collaborate within and across
disciplines and country boundaries to form new research alliances and
activities focusing on sustainable aquaculture development across the region.

2. Enhancement of knowledge exchange in aquaculture research and
development between a range of stakeholders – not only academic research
institutions but also commercial small and medium enterprises (SMEs),
government, non-government organizations (NGOs).

To achieve its objectives, the project will work with the entire range of relevant
stakeholder groups, including academic research institutions, the SME sector,
government, NGOs, community-based organizations and farmers associations, with
links to small-scale fish farmers.

As one of its activities, the project will implement a review of national policies and
programmes regarding aquaculture. The specific purpose of the above mentioned
study therefore, is to obtain background information from participating countries (of
which Uganda is one) that will enable SARNISSA to identify the needs and priorities
for a future policy, research and development agenda, guiding the implementation of
relevant projects that will in the long run help build viable and sustainable aquaculture
development and research networks in the Sub-Saharan Africa Region that involve all
stakeholders.
1.1. Objectives of Study
The specific objectives of undertaking this study were;

1. To produce an analytical overview of aquaculture development in Uganda in
relation to past and present policy, planning, projects by government, NGO,
research, commercial and other sectors.
2. To review existing policy measures, plans or programmes that are currently
working well, as well as those that are not.
3. To determine the possibilities of enhancing and improving the implementation
of existing policies and programmes.
4. To identify any inconsistencies regarding aquaculture and other sector policies
as well as of opportunities to integrate aquaculture better into these sector
policies.
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5. To identify the gaps, needs and priorities for future national research and
development.
2.0. Methodology
2.1. The conceptual framework
The study was mainly analytical, descriptive and qualitative in nature.
2.2. Methods Used
The methods used to collect data were mainly literature review and key informant
interviews.
2.2.1. Literature review
Literature on aquaculture national policies and sector policies as well as programmes
was reviewed. Information was obtained from various sources including internet
search, Uganda’s institutional libraries (such as Ministry of Agriculture Animal
Industry and Fisheries, MAAIF), tertiary institutions, the National Agricultural
Research Organization (NARO), among others with a view to obtain information on:
1. the current aquaculture farming systems in the country,
2. main organizations involved in aquaculture,
3. research and development projects,
4. main academic programmes,
5. current government frameworks, policies, strategic plans and programs.
2.2.2. Key informant interviews
Non-structured key informant interviews were carried out with key persons
responsible for the implementation of various policies, plans and programmes related
to aquaculture in Uganda. Interviewers were qualified aquaculturalists and were first
trained on how to conduct the interviews. The geographical location of the identified
key stakeholders interviewed was also taken into account, notably rural, peri-urban
and urban. Consequently interviews were carried out in the following areas shown in
Table 2.1 and Figure 3.1:
Table 2.1: Major locations where interviews were conducted.
District Setting
Kampala Urban
Wakiso Urban and Peri-urban
Mukono Peri-urban and Rural
Iganga Rural
Jinja Urban
Pallisa Rural
Mityana Rural
Tororo Rural

The checklist used to guide the interviews conducted was drawn up based on the
recommendations of the Terms of Reference in lieu of the objectives of the study (see
appendix 1). The stakeholders interviewed included farmers, researchers, NGOs,
extension personnel, sectoral service providers and the market sector. Choice was
based on their experiences, observations and opinions of the current policies, plans
2