Abstract:
Agriculture is the backbone of Uganda's economy providing a significant share of GDP. It constitutes at least 38.3% of GDP and about 85% of the export earnings, and 80% of the total employment in the country (Background to the budget, 2006/07). As such, the government of Uganda has, over the recent years, emphasized agricultural development by formulating and implementing socio-economic policies' aimed at improving the sector. Uganda's current agricultural development strategy is clearly spelt out in the Plan for Modernization of Agriculture (PMA), a key pillar of the Government's comprehensive development framework, the Poverty Eradication Action Plan (PEAP). The PMA is a holistic strategic framework for poverty eradication that emphasizes increased farm-level profitability and productivity through multi-sectoral interventions (MAAIF, 2000).