Hope for Kikuube farmers after grain quality ordinance

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Farmers and leaders in Kikuube district are optimistic following the recent passing of a grain quality ordinance designed to enhance postharvest handling practices and reduce losses for smallholder producers.

The ordinance, which aims to regulate grain production, storage, and marketing, has been hailed as a step toward improving agricultural sustainability and economic outcomes for the district’s farming communities. 

Addressing postharvest challenges

Kikuube, home to approximately 380,097 residents and 140,000 refugees in Kyangwali settlement, relies heavily on agriculture, with 80% of households engaged in smallholder farming. Maize, beans, rice, soybeans, and sorghum are staple crops, with maize alone yielding around 12,000 metric tonnes annually. However, poor postharvest practices, such as drying grains on bare ground, have led to significant losses, including spoilage, reduced quality, and diminished market value. 

To tackle these issues, the Kikuube District Council passed the Grain Quality Ordinance 2025, spearheaded by Silverious Tumusiime, the district’s production and natural resources secretary. The ordinance focuses on: 

- Promoting proper agronomic practices (e.g., herbicide use, fertiliser application, timely weeding). 

- Regulating harvest and postharvest handling to minimise losses. 

- Licensing grain dealers to ensure quality standards. 

- Enhancing the marketability of grains as both food and cash crops. 

Enforcement and compliance

Tumusiime emphasised that the district will first sensitise farmers about the new regulations. Those who fail to comply, such as continuing improper drying methods or selling moist grains, face penalties, including exclusion from farmer support programs, restrictions on crop sales, and potential arrests for repeat offenders. 

Stakeholder reactions

The ordinance has been met with enthusiasm. Vincente Opio, Kikuube’s vice-chairperson, praised its timing, noting that poor postharvest practices have long hurt both farmers’ incomes and market access.

“This law will ensure quality produce that attracts better prices,” he said, adding that final approval from the solicitor general is pending. 

Nicolas Murungi, a maize and rice farmer, called the ordinance “long overdue.” He highlighted the need to hold fellow farmers accountable: “Some follow best practices, but others’ negligence affects everyone. This law will enforce standards fairly.” 

A path to prosperity

By addressing systemic gaps in postharvest management, the ordinance aims to boost yields, reduce waste, and elevate Kikuube’s agricultural sector. For farmers like Murungi, it signals renewed hope for economic stability and growth, a key step in a region where livelihoods depend on the land.