Uganda advances national feed and fodder data system to strengthen livestock sector

UGANDA– Uganda has taken a major step toward modernising its livestock feed and fodder sector with the operationalisation of a national Feed and Fodder Data Ecosystem, moving the system from design into live deployment and providing a centralised platform for real-time data collection, analysis, and decision-making

The initiative, led by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) in partnership with AU‑IBAR’s Resilient African Feed and Fodder Systems (RAFFS) Project, was formalised during a three-day high-level technical workshop and ministerial briefing held from March 9–11, 2026, in Kampala.

The event brought together government agencies, including the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) and the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO), district representatives, and private-sector actors. 

Discussions focused on integrating validated feed and fodder indicators into the National Food and Agricultural Statistics System (NFASS) and the National Integrated Food and Agricultural Management Information System (NIFAMIS), ensuring that the data support both national and subnational planning.

Hon. Lt. Col (Rtd) Bright Rwamirama, Minister of State for Animal Industry, endorsed the national feed and fodder dashboard, calling it a core tool for policy, market development, and planning.

“Integrating this data into NFASS and NIFAMIS ensures continuity beyond project cycles and provides actionable insights to farmers, investors, and government agencies,” he noted. 

The Minister emphasised the need to classify feeds by species and production objectives, dairy, beef, poultry, or fish, so farmers can apply precise nutritional guidance and avoid costly feeding errors. 

Tackling long-standing feed and fodder challenges

The national feed and fodder ecosystem addresses longstanding gaps in Uganda’s livestock sector. 

Previously, feed data collection was fragmented, project-based, and often outdated, limiting policymakers’ and farmers’ ability to respond to supply deficits or market opportunities. 

Without a centralised system, farmers lacked clear guidance on feed quality, quantity, and nutrient content, leading to inefficiencies, reduced animal productivity, and missed economic opportunities in regional trade.

The new platform includes a functional prototype dashboard that displays feed balances, trends, and analytics. 

It incorporates key parameters such as crude protein, metabolizable energy, and dry matter, allowing the generation of species- and purpose-specific recommendations. 

Practical use cases, such as identifying regional feed surpluses or deficits, are directly linked to time-bound actions and responsibilities for government and private sector stakeholders. 

Plans are in place to roll out the first operational version by April 15, 2026.

Uganda’s feed and fodder industry is critical for the country’s agriculture-driven economy. 

Livestock contributes significantly to livelihoods, nutrition, and export earnings, but its growth has been constrained by unreliable feed supplies and limited access to actionable data. 

The new data ecosystem not only improves planning and market development but also supports innovation and investment in feed production, seed improvement, and efficient animal genetics. 

By translating complex analytics into farmer-friendly formats via mobile applications, SMS, and advisory tools, the system ensures practical benefits at the farm level.

The integration into NIFAMIS ensures government ownership, standardisation, and accessibility of feed data for regulatory oversight, early warning, and investment planning. 

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