INSIGHT: National Oil Palm Project (NOPP) takes off YOUR FREE QUARTERY NEWSLETTER www.agriculture.go.ug OIL PALM4P Model key for Agriculture Projects NEWS: Editor In this approach farmers producers are regarded as partners but not as beneficiaries. This means they are involved in decision making and negotiations Twitter Facebook: National oil Email: [email protected] @nopp_oilpamUG palmProjectUganda Write: The Editor, P.O. Box 12041, Kampala COVERING OIL PALM DEVELOPMENT hrough a ten year National Oil Palm Project OIL PALM PROJECT T(NOPP), the Ministry is expanding the production of the Oil Palm from 11,348ha to another 17,147ha GOES NATIONAL in the five hubs of Buvuma, Mayuge, ALLURING FUTURE: Government of Uganda through the Ministry of Agriculture Mukono-Buikwe, Animal Industry and Fisheries has launched a National Oil Palm Project rollout Masaka-Kyotera and Namayingo. to scale Oil palm production to different parts of the country. >> Full story on page 03 In 2003, Government of Uganda and Bidco Uganda Limited unveiled plans to establish 40,000 Hectares of Oil Palm across the Country and setup Crude Oil mills and a refinery to guarantee market for the Oil Palm farmers produce. Minister Ssempijja National Oil Palm From VODP to Applauds Oil Palm Project (NOPP) NOPP - Project Expansion Implemented by Manager 06 MAAIF 03 02 OIL PALM NEWS FIRST EDITION NATIONAL NEWS MAAIF Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA Mission: To transform subsistence farming to commercial agriculture Vision: A competitive profitable and sustainable agriculture sector www.agriculture.go.ug Minister's Message Dear Reader, efforts to reduce importation of into practice the presidential crude palm oil, therefore, continue directives and resolutions in all the The NRM government is to yield good returns with an programmes and projects such as committed to supporting key increase in production of oil palm the National Oil Palm Project. strategic commodities to ensure fresh fruit bunches and incomes It is my strong belief that this greater impact on household incomes earned by the farmers. The oil palm newsletter will trigger appreciation and national export earnings. harvests increased from 37,802 MT of investments in oil palm in Emphasis of the interventions has, in FY 2017/18 to 44,221 MT in FY Uganda that have become a reality therefore, focused on commodity 2018/19 with an average value of and breathed life into our economy. value chains, focusing on research; Shs21.1 billion annually. Oil palm is an investment crop that extension; pest, vector and disease Households with mature oil we all need to embrace■ control; provision of inputs; palm gardens in Kalangala earn an promoting sustainable land use average of Shs17.2 million each For God and my Country and soil management; post-harvest year and are already in the middle- handling; improving market access income bracket. The oil palm Hon Vincent Bamulangaki and infrastructure; and value enterprise in Kalangala produced Ssempiija (MP) addition. over 40,000 MT of crude palm oil Minister of Agriculture, A number of interventions have in 2019 saving the country Shs84.3 Animal Industry and Fisheries been undertaken by my ministry billion. have led to increased employment, This has been possible by increased household incomes, food prioritizing and integrating the security and even exports. government’s commitments to The government of Uganda’s the agriculture sector and putting Vincent Bamulangaki Ssempiija Minister of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries Message from the Permanent Secretary Dear colleagues and all The NOPP strategic plan extension workers will the objectives of NOPP in stakeholders over the next 10 years puts mobilize individual particular and MAAIF in emphasis on supporting farmers to participate in general. I take this opportunity to oil palm farmers and non- the NOPP interventions I also thank our Ministers welcome you to the 1st oil palm communities to to facilitate input in MAAIF, Ministry of edition of Oil Palm News, ensure that vulnerable distribution, storage and Finance, Planning and the quarterly newsletter groups like women and transportation. Economic Development of the National Oil Palm youth get involved in The Ministry of (MoFPED) and Ministry Project (NOPP). This in growing oil palm for Agriculture, Animal of Local Government newsletter is in line with sustainable food security Industry and Fisheries (MOLG) and all line the Vision of the Ministry, and income security. (MAAIF) is grateful to Ministries, Departments which is to ensure: “A In this context, I would its partners, notably the and Agencies (MDAs) competitive, profitable and like to inform you that International Fund for for their continued sustainable agricultural beginning April 2021, Agriculture Development collaboration. sector” as well as the the official planting of oil (IFAD), Oil Palm Uganda We are looking forward agriculture sector mission, palm seedlings in Buvuma Limited (OPUL), BIDCO to continuing this fruitful, which is: “To transform District by smallholder and the farmers for making interesting dialogue and subsistence farming to farmers will commence. growing oil palm a reality exchange of information commercial agriculture”. The smallholder in Uganda. with you■ This edition gives an outgrowers shall also I want to conclude by insight into the NOPP be supported deeply to thanking all members who Good Reading!!! strategic direction increase on their capacity have contributed to this for inclusive rural and scale. newsletter for your efforts Pius Wakabi Kasajja development through I believe that the in making this publication Permanent Secretary growing oil palm as a farmer committees and a success. I thank His Ministry of Pius Wakabi Kasajja catalyst for wealth creation institutions working Excellence the President Agriculture, Animal Permanent Secretary and enabling the country together with the parish for all the guidance and Industry and Fisheries Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries to achieve its Vision 2040. chiefs as well as the support towards achieving (MAAIF) NATIONAL NEWS FIRST EDITION OIL PALM NEWS 03 Oil Palm Project Goes National overnment of Uganda Oil Project one and two, this has district shall operate through a 4P through the Ministry proven very successful and our model, where different Partners of Agriculture, Animal partners through discussions with shall play key roles to implement Industry and Fisheries government decided that the crop the expansion. Oil palm Buvuma hasG launched a national project production is expanded to give Limited is mandated to develop rollout to scale Oil palm production opportunity to other farmers to seedlings and ensure production, to different parts of the country. grow oil palm” adds Masaba while BIDCO takes center in Through a ten-year project called The new districts of expansion refining, Farmers associations are National Oil Palm project (NOPP) will include Buvuma, Mayuge, key partners in Farmer organization the ministry is to expand production Namayigo, Bugiri, Masaka, and MAAIF key in monitoring from originally Kalangala district Kyotera Mukono and Buikwe. The and scaling the project as well as to other districts. According to project team however, reveals that ensuring there is land acquisition. Mrs. Connie Magomu Masaba the more studies were being done to see In a recent interview with the Project Manager National Oil Palm the viability of oil palm in northern Minister for Agriculture, Vincent project, the expansion is based on Uganda. Ssempijja, the minister said research indications that oil palm Connie Masaba further reveals government efforts to extend the can grow in many parts of the that the ministry working with palm oil project to other areas in country but also the realization that Oil Palm Buvuma Ltd (OPBL) the country were high priority as A ripe oil palm fresh fruit bunch oil palm has capacity to transform private sector partner had already the demand for oil palm worldwide many Ugandans out of poverty. established an oil palm nursery continues to grow. are very good for our people, so out process will not have more “We have over the years been in in Buvuma with over 300000 “The demand for oil palm is high this is an enterprise we should put challenges as it was in Kalangala Kalangala district, where oil palm seedlings that will be supplied to and the supply is so low, we still special focus on.” Said Sempijja. district because there have been production has been undertaken for various Farmers across the country. import a lot of oil, Uganda’s oil is The minister assures that the multiple lessons learnt over the last twenty years under Vegetable The expansion like in Kalangala rated very good and the bi-products ministry believes that the scale years■ Message from the Project Manager NOPP Dear Readers, Welcome to the first edition of the Oil Palm News, a newsletter intended to regularly bring to you the latest information in the oil palm sector. Approximately 20 years, the Vegetable Oil Development Project was implemented in Uganda which has now been transformed into the National Oil Palm Project (NOPP), which is the leading project in the growing of oil palm in Kalangala District. The success of this project is now being replicated in Buvuma District with Mukono, Mayuge, Masaka and Kyotera districts expected to come on board soon. At the national level, the impact of our interventions is reflected in the impressive performance of the agriculture sector which