Food security in Africa is being undermined by climate change, internal and external conflicts, lack of productive resources, and poverty. In Uganda, the certainty of a food-secure future hangs in the balance as increasing temperatures, recurrent drought, erratic rainfall, and floods threaten food security in the country. More than just a trending topic, it is one that requires an immediate and sustainable response.

Why is Africa’s food basket running out?

In July 2024, the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET), report showed that following the poor and erratic rains, delayed and below-average harvests are driving at least 20% of the population to face Stressed (IPC Phase 2), especially in northern Uganda, and this will likely continue through October. The decline in crop production has led to lower harvests and higher staple prices due to reduced supply and increased demand. This further increases the threat to the livelihoods of millions of vulnerable households and people. As of January 9, 2023, the World Food Program (WFP) Hunger Map noted that 16.4 million Ugandans face insufficient food consumption and as the climate change crisis remains stubbornly high, more will be affected.

Uganda, with its population nearing 50 million, is grappling with a pressing food security crisis. A major contributing factor is the country's dilapidated and inadequate post-harvest infrastructure. This infrastructure deficit limits market access for farmers, resulting in substantial losses of food products after harvest. With approximately 7.4 million agricultural households, representing about 14.83% of the total population, the country is a major producer of maize, sweet potato, and cassava. However, due to limited storage capacity for grains, availability and affordability fluctuate significantly between seasons. 30-50% of food is lost due to inadequate infrastructure, storage facilities, and post-harvest handling practices (FAO, 2019). For context, only 16% of Uganda's national road network is developed, yet 95% of the food is transported by road. Underdeveloped roads and transport networks for food distribution contribute to the bottlenecks of food security. Consequently, food aggregation, transportation, storage, and distribution primarily rely on informal, small-scale operators.

Also, issues such as disease infestation are wreaking huge havoc on grains. Up to 65% of maize in major producing districts contained high aflatoxin levels. Grains risk contamination due to optimum temperatures, high humidity, and high rainfall, facilitating fungal growth and mycotoxin biosynthesis. This not only poses significant food safety concerns but also greatly reduces the economic value of the maize, affecting the earnings of both subsistent commercial farmers. Ultimately, aflatoxin contamination can be controlled by supporting post-harvest handling practices. This involves training traders and farmers on quality standards and post-harvest technologies, such as thorough grain cleaning, proper combine adjustment to reduce kernel damage, matching drying capacity to wet corn holding capacity, proper drying and cooling, removal of fines and broken kernels, and sound storage practices. The implementation of these measures requires adequate and functioning infrastructure.

Filling the gaps in food security for Uganda.

To enhance food safety, reduce waste, and support Ugandan smallholder farmers, it's crucial to invest in infrastructure improvements, such as roads, markets, and storage facilities. Extension services also play a vital role in providing farmers with essential agricultural information, training, and resources. By addressing the root causes of these challenges, we can create a more resilient food system.

In 2023, AFEX expanded its operations to Uganda to address local aggregation, storage, and financial inclusion challenges faced by Ugandan farmers. This expansion demonstrates AFEX's commitment to leveraging proven solutions to address Africa's food security challenges. By deploying a model that has successfully tackled bottlenecks in Nigeria and Kenya, we are taking a significant step towards building more resilient food systems across the continent. Through WorkBench, a value chain management platform, AFEX provides cutting-edge technology, including the distribution of climate-resilient inputs like seedlings and fertilizers, and deploys field extension officers to offer expert advice on fertilizer applications, answering to the gaps in food production. On the post-harvest side, we have built essential smart storage facilities in strategic locations near crop-producing regions. Today, our operations in Bulambuli, Hoima, Kampala, Kigumba, Lira, and Masindi boast over 20 warehouses, focusing on maize, sorghum, soybeans, barley, and coffee. AFEX facilities help Ugandan smallholders improve grain quality and link with markets while ensuring high quality and traceable supply of food and feed-grade commodities to processors.

Conclusion

By adopting smart warehouse technology, we can extend the shelf life of harvested crops, minimize post-harvest losses, and create better market access for smallholder farmers in Uganda.This technology ensures transparent pricing, high-quality and traceable food and feed-grade commodities, and increased food availability. Ultimately, it brings Uganda closer to achieving Zero Hunger, a key Sustainable Development Goal.

Written by Abdul-Hafeez Odusanya, Managing Director, AFEX Uganda