Ugandan small-scale farmer groups have asked the government to introduce quotas on imported products by supermarkets to promote local products. The farmers observed that foreign supermarket and retail outlets imported food products which can be supplied by small farmers.
They argued this had displaced them from the traditional market. "Let the Government regulate the food imports from South Africa, the European Union, the US and Asia to promote farmers in the country," the farmers said.
Statistics indicate that Uganda spent $26.9m on imports but earned only $73.8b from exports during the 2005/06 period.
The farmers explained that they had the potential to produce staple foods for local consumption. "The government has to promote the development of domestic food markets, provide rural services to smallholders and mechanise agriculture to ensure market efficiency and transparency," Samuel Nyanzi, an advocate of rural community for development, said.
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