Gulu and Amuru maize farmers and buyers trained on standards compliance
GULU, March 20, 2025 – Maize value chain actors, including farmers, buyers, and other stakeholders in Gulu and Amuru districts, have been urged to comply with quality standards to secure better prices and facilitate cross-border trade within Uganda and beyond.
This call for adherence to standards follows concerns raised by maize farmers about the fluctuating prices of maize, which at times can plummet as low as Shs 300 per kilogramme.
Gadson Asiimwe, a Crop Inspector and Certification Officer at the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries (MAAIF), noted that farmers, produce dealers, millers, and transporters are failing to observe quality standards when handling maize. As a result, Ugandan maize has been rejected by neighbouring countries such as South Sudan and Kenya, who have cited the presence of aflatoxins in the maize, which pose health risks to consumers.
Asiimwe highlighted that in 2024, out of the 5 million tonnes of maize produced in Uganda, 25 percent was lost due to poor post-harvest handling, with only 500 metric tonnes being exported.
He pointed out that many farmers are not following proper maize cultivation techniques, such as correct spacing in the fields, which results in poor yields. He urged farmers to seek advice from extension workers at planting time to improve their practices.
“Asiimwe also advised farmers on proper harvesting techniques: ‘You should use the correct methods to harvest your maize and remove it from the combs. Some machines break the maize seeds, leading to spoilage. Additionally, you should never dry maize directly on the ground, even if you have swept the area clean.’”
He further emphasised to produce dealers the importance of cleaning and sorting maize before storing it. “Even if the maize is from your own brother, make sure you clean, sort, and check the moisture content before storing it. Some dealers leave maize outside and simply cover it with tarpaulins. This is wrong; you are wasting the farmers’ efforts,” said Asiimwe.
Asiimwe was speaking at a training organised by the Southern and Eastern Africa Trade Information and Negotiations Institute (SEATINI) Uganda, aimed at strengthening compliance and competitiveness within the maize value chain in Amuru and Gulu. The event took place at Acholi Inn in Gulu City on Tuesday.
Nice Musana, the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer at SEATINI Uganda, told theCooperator News that the training is part of a six-month project targeting 400 maize value chain actors.
“This project follows a baseline survey we conducted in January, which revealed that 73 percent of farmers in Gulu and Amuru had limited awareness of the benefits of adhering to maize standards. The survey also showed that 93 percent of farmers were unaware of the East African Community’s grain standards. Most were relying on knowledge passed down from other farmers or elders,” Musana explained.
“We are training farmers to ensure they follow proper standards to access better markets for their maize. Additionally, we have drafted a maize by-law, which will be debated by the district councils of Amuru and Gulu to regulate farmers, produce dealers, and millers, ensuring they adhere to the required standards,” Musana added.
As part of the project, maize value chain actors will participate in a learning visit to Masindi district, where they will gain insights into best practices for growing and handling maize. The project is expected to conclude in June 2025.
https://thecooperator.news/chia-seed-company-turns-to-cooperatives-to-meet-international-standards/,
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