Uganda
May 2015

The National Director World Vision Uganda- Mr. Gilbert Kamanga and Ms Astrid Mastenbroek- Chief of Party ISSD after the signing of the MOU

World Vision Uganda has signed a partnership agreement with the Integrated Seed Sector Development Programme Uganda (ISSD) to share and expand best practices in local seed business to new groups of farmers engaged in seed production and marketing in Uganda.

The National Director World Vision Uganda- Mr. Gilbert Kamanga and Ms Astrid Mastenbroek- Chief of Party ISSD signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organisations at the World Vision Head Office in Nakasero on April 29, 2015.

“This partnership will use the approach of Local Seed Businesses,” Astrid explained. The collaboration is expected to support Local Seed Businesses (LSBs) in technicalities of growing quality seeds and attain commercial sustainability. The seeds include soya, cow peas, pigeon peas, beans, sorghum, millet, sim-sim, groundnuts and Irish potato.

According to the Agreement, World Vision will “develop and support at least five Local Seed Businesses,” pilot innovations to test creative practices and establish a team of experts to support LSBs in technical food production, market orientation and strategic linkages. It will match ISSD funding with at least 3,200,000 shillings (1,200 US dollar) per LSB.

ISSD which started operation in Uganda in 2012 and receives funding from the Dutch Embassy, will provide 6,400,000 shillings (about 2,400 US dollars) per LSB, ensure quality assurance and provide training among other roles.

“We will first implement the partnership in the World Vision Oyam-Kole Cluster which groups Aber, Acaba, Minakulu and Aboke Area Development Programmes,” says Immaculate Sekitto the World Vision Food Security and Community Resilience Specialist who was instrumental in initiating the collaboration.

“As World Vision, one of our competencies is that we are able to engage with farmers. When farmers make their own seeds, you are assured of quality and availability,” said Gilbert Kamanga. “The challenge people often face is to understand that seeds is a business,” he said.

Mary Immaculate Mera- Partnership Coordinator ISSD remarked, “We are excited to bring World Vision on board.”

The one year collaboration effectively begins May1, 2015 and ends April 30, 2016. Working with partners, ISSD also called Wageningen UR Uganda expects to raise the number of Local Seeds Businesses in West Nile, Northern Uganda and Western Uganda from 30 to 130.