By Silvia Nyambura
The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) has introduced a new electronic system aimed at helping customers verify the legitimacy of the products they consume through their mobile phones. This innovation called the E-tag system has been put in place primarily to support e-verification of agricultural inputs in a campaign supported by USAID Feed the Future Uganda Agricultural Inputs Activity.
The main objective of the campaign is to educate farmers about the system so that they are able to use it to guard themselves against substandard and counterfeit agro-inputs. This will ensure they make informed choices while purchasing agro inputs, enhance their yields and food security.
The consumer uses Electronic Verification by scratching the silver panel on the product to reveal a unique code and then sending that code to the number provided on the scratch panel through their mobile phone. A message is sent back to the consumer informing them of the key product details and clarifying whether it is genuine or not.
Speaking during the launch event earlier this week, Patricia Ejalu the Deputy Executive Director-Technical at UNBS noted proliferation of substandard agro inputs in the Ugandan market is now as high as 30% across the country.
“This is not only causing economic loss but also leading to destruction of livelihoods. We are pleased with the good working relationship between our Ministry of Trade and Cooperatives, UNBS and the Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF). The importance of this partnership is vital for systems such as the E-Verification to be effectively adopted. The E-tag System has been developed to work across all production sectors in Uganda. The agricultural sector has taken the lead with the support of USAID Feed the Future Agricultural Inputs Activity,
