Rome - Italy - (19-20 February 2003)

Mr. Chairman,

On behalf of my delegation and the Government of Uganda I convey our warm congratulations to IFAD upon the successful completion of 25 years working for the rural poor. Uganda has benefited from your patnership in implementation of its various programmes focusing on eradication of hunger and poverty.

Through its Plan for Modernisation of Agriculture (PMA), the Government of Uganda decided to eradicate poverty through modernising agriculture. The plan is derived from the Poverty Eradication Action Plan which emphasises:

1. Economic growth
2. Improvement of quality of Life
3. Increasing Household incomes and
4. Good Governance

The Plan for Modernisation of Agriculture has seven specific interventions namely;

1. Technology Development and Dissemination
2. Agricultural Advisory Services
3. Agricultural Education
4. Access to and sustainable utilisation of natural resources
5. Infrastructure
6. Rural Finance
7. Agro-processing and Marketing.

While implementing the Plan for Modernisation of Agriculture, we have learnt a number of lessons.

All the components must function to enable us to achieve the ultimate goal of eradicating poverty through modernising agriculture. The farmer does not only need access to improved technologies but also to supportive productive factors i.e. land, rural finance for credit, markets, information and appropriate infrastructure in form of roads, communication and rural electricity.

In this regard, we are committed to examine each of those components to ensur that more impact is made through various programmes to improve on access to productive resources especially by the women. We have undertaken the integration of issues related to gender, environment and HIV/AIDS as cross cutting matters in all rural development policies.

The IFAD Director in charge of Africa Mr. Gary Howe saw for himself the seriousness with which the Government of Uganda is focusing on rural development.

Despite all this, it is important to note that the challenge remains especially in respect of making farming attract more investments from the poor by increasing productivity and profitability. In this respect, there is much need to invest in rural development especially in water for production and market infrastructure. Further more, we need to continue reviewing policies and regulatory frameworks related to access to land, rural finance plus standards and quality of farm produce.

From all the above and our national good governance conviction and implementation, you will see that we are in harmony with the Millenium Development Goals (MDG) and applaud your focus on the same plus IFAD’s continuing support. We shall continue to do what it is that we must do, to prove to you that Uganda is a fertile ground for IFAD’s endeavours.

Thank you.