18 February 2004
Kampala — Members of Parliament have called on ministry of agriculture to include them in a seminar on the implications of Genetically Modified (GM) foods, which are said to be in the country.
They further expressed regret over data collection in the Agriculture Ministry which they said has declined for over 15 years, during retreat for parliamentary committee on agriculture at the Botanical Beach Hotel, recently.
The MPs cautioned Dr Kisamba Mugerwa, the Minister of Agriculture for the continual existence of coffee wilt disease, saying there should be a strong regulatory body to oversee the quality of crops produced in the country. They also advised the ministry to ensure that agriculture is expanded without causing disastrous effects to the environment.
At the two-day retreat, Mugerwa presented new draft bills and policies his ministry has come up with for agricultural development for discussion before they are tabled in Parliament.
Mugerwa informed the committee that his ministry can only deal with the challenges related to pests and diseases control in both the crop and the livestock sector if there is adequate funding from the government.
He had earlier on informed the committee that the Bill would include National Tea Development Policy, the Food and Nutrition Strategy and Investment Plan, the National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) and the Veterinary Bill 2003.
Other bills include the Animal Diseases Amendment Bill 2003, the Statutory Investment Bill, the Apiculture Policy Bill, the Meat Industry Development Bill 2003 and the Palm Oil Development Project.
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