Government launches Rice Council

By Nshabohurira Doreen

The Ministry of Trade Industry and Cooperatives (MTIC) has launched the Rice Millers Council of Uganda (RMCU). The Council is a private sector-led organization that encompasses large and small scale millers, large scale rice growers as well as the representatives of smallholder rice farmers across the country.

The government recently recognized rice as one of the strategic crops because of its high returns and its ability to reduce poverty among the smallholder farmers. In addition (MTIC) has developed a National Rice Development Strategy covering the period from 2008-2018. The overriding goal of the strategy is to achieve rice self-sufficiency in Uganda by 2018 with a production target of 680,000 Metric Tons (MT) of un-milled rice from the 177,000 MT in 2008. Therefore the establishment of the rice council is to complement this process, give more impetus to the growth of the sector and ensure that this goal is achieved.

In 2004 the EAC adopted the Common External Tariff (CET) as a policy to boost rice production and to protect small farmers. This policy has proven to be successful. For the case of Uganda, the CET led to a 230% increase in area and 360% increase in production over a ten year period (2004-2014). This success is indicative of a positive trend ably nurtured and supported by appropriate policies within Uganda and the East African Community.

The establishment of a Rice Council in Uganda is in tandem with efforts undertaken by other rice growing countries in the region and in Africa at large to create similar institutions to foster the growth of the rice sector in their respective countries. These includes Africa Rice, the Eastern Africa Grain Council (EAGC), the Rice Council of Tanzania (RCT), the Ghana Rice Inter-Professional Body (GRIB), and the Nigeria Rice Policy Advocacy Platform (NiRPAP).

While officiating at the launch in Kampala this morning, the Minister for Trade Industry and Cooperatives Amelia Kyambadde said the government has invested heavily in the rice industry.

“For instance we have spent over US$ 65 million in the rehabilitation of the irrigation Schemes in Olweny, Doho and Agoro to mention but a few. We are also engaged in the extension and research work along with other development partners. I want to see the volume and efficiency in rice grow to the extent that Uganda becomes a net exporter just like coffee and tea. With that in mind, it becomes important for us to work together with our partners and make Uganda an important player in the region and Africa in exporting rice,