Poor coordination, especially of services supposed to be delivered by the government ministries, departments and agencies, partly explains why Operation Wealth Creation has not ticked all the boxes since its inception two years ago.
Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) was established by President Museveni in July 2013 with a view to eradicate poverty and facilitate growth of households’ income, mainly through agriculture.
Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) was later drawn in the project to ensure proper and equitable distribution of agricultural inputs.
In his speech early in the week in Kampala, the chairman of the OWC, Gen Caleb Akwandwanaho, popularly known as Gen Salim Saleh, told participants at the annual agricultural sector review that the initiative is already being felt across the country despite its ambitious goals.
Increasing collaboration
To attain those high goals, he said the focus of OWC will be towards increasing coordination and collaboration between the ministries, agencies and stakeholders involved in the agricultural sector.
This, he said, will eventually reap efficiency and effectiveness.
“We cannot understate the importance of effective coordination and clear communications. And this is where much of the OWC future emphasis will be focused,” said the OWC chairperson.
He continued: “Profitable agriculture will require that coordination along the value chain, which include input supply, production, collection, storage, bulking, processing and marketing are all well aligned to create a smooth and flawless system.”
World food programme deal
Operation Wealth Creation has entered into a partnership with the World Food Programme (WFP), in a move that the programme’s head of communication and public affairs Sarah Kagingo described as beneficial to the agricultural sector.
The Memorandum of Understanding will see the WFP support government in areas of post harvest handling, which is costing farmers about 30 per cent of their harvest.
The same agreement will see storage of commodities improved as a result of the WFB expertise in this regard.
Provision of market information and development of market infrastructures, among other operational support initiatives, are also part of the deal.
