WFP's 32mln USD investment boosts grain production in Uganda

P's 32mln USD investment boosts grain production in Uganda

KAMPALA, June 8 (Xinhua) – The UN World Food Program (WFP) on Monday said its 32 million U.S. dollar investment in Uganda over the last six years has boosted the production of grain in the East African country.

The food aid agency in a statement issued here said the money was spent on infrastructure and training to assist smallholder farmer groups.

"WFP is providing over 1,000 farmer groups with critical information, skills and modern tools which enable them to access the quality grain market," said Michael Dunford, WFP's acting country representative.

"By building warehouses and establishing local storage facilities, WFP has increased grain storage capacity in Uganda by more than 25,000 metric tons and helped to stimulate trading," he added.

Smallholder farmers in Uganda are often unable to access formal markets as the quality of the grain often suffers from inadequate storage and handling practices.

"WFP has been working with farmers and the private sector to improve storage facilities and provide modern grain processing equipment to clean and bag the grain and ensure farmers can access markets beyond the farm gate," the statement said.

"Farmer groups who sell their grain through established grain stores have been selling it at a premium, more than twice the market average. Last year WFP bought over 41,000 metric tons of food, at a cost of 17.5 million dollars, from small scale farmer groups as well as grain traders throughout Uganda," the statement added. Endi