Steps for Developing Organic Agricultural Policy

1. STEPS FOR DEVELOPING ORGANIC AGRICULTURAL POLICY 2ND INTERNATIONAL SUMMER SCHOOL IN ORGANIC AGRICULTURE 7TH – 28TH JULY 2006 FACULTY OF FORESTRY & NATURE CONSERVATION MAKERERE UNIVERSITY Kampala. Prepared by: Charles G.A Rusoke Senior Agricultural Officer/Soil & Water Conservation. Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries P. O. Box 102, Entebbe 26th July 2006.

2. ORGANIC AGRICULTURE POLICY DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP DEFINING POLICY The term “Policy” is broadly defined as “A projected programme of goals, values and their consistent practice over a considerably long period of time which benefit from periodic review”. Policies are broad guiding statements that define the mandate and objectives of sectoral agencies. The policies aim at providing comprehensive integrated and coordinated frameworks for the management of both human and physical resources towards a sector’s objectives; and usually develop with reasonable order and predictability.

3. ContPolicies at both the national and sub-national level provide a framework for government decision making. They also specify clear privileges and responsibilities for individuals, and improve duties of government, especially by establishing procedural requirements. Consequently, policies classify a complex set of management objectives by distinguishing between suggested and mandated behaviours and regulating government, private sector and civil society activities.

4. Cont.Figure.1Depicts a typical policy cycle that begins with agenda setting. The Organic Agriculture Policy should echo the commitments expressed in PEAP, PMA, the National Environment Management Policy 1994 and the National Environment Statute 1995, that poverty should be eradicated by modernizing agriculture through optimal utilization of natural resources (soil and water), using environmentally friendly techniques. The second step in the cycle is the consultative process, followed by formulation of the policy.

5. Cont.Consultation is needed so that the process is participatory and stakeholders feel ownership of the final policy. The fourth step is legitimating, which in this case means approval by Cabinet. The fifth stage is the translation of policy proposal into actions. Thereafter, a policy is assessed and may be reformulated.

6. POLICY CYCLE

7. CONSULTATIVE PROCESS • Is the solicitation of people’s views on proposed actions.

8. FORMULATION • Is the setting of policy goals and the formulation of specific plans to achieve them

9. LEGITIMATION • Is the investment of authority in the policy to invoke public acceptance. This may be by constitutional, statutory or administrative means like the promulgation of a supporting law or set of regulations.

10. IMPLEMENTATION • Is the translation of policy proposals into actions.

11. ASSESSMENT AND REFORMULATION • The policy is being successfully implemented and what changes need to be effected.

12. POLICY TERMINATION • One of the outputs of assessment is the decision to conclude a policy.

13. STEPS FOR DEVELOPING A NATIONAL ORGANIC AGRICULTUREPOLICY • Step 1 Mobilize Resources • Step 2 Establish an Organic Agriculture Policy Working Group to steer the development process. • Step 3 Recruit a short-term consultant to prepare an issue paper. • Step 4 Hold a stakeholder’s workshop on the issues identified and reach a consensus on priority

14. Step 5 Prepare a draft National Organic Agriculture Policy. • Step 6 Circulate a draft to all National stakeholders and a district and urban authorities for review and reaction • Step 7 Hold regional consultative workshops ensuring that each District or urban authority is adequately represented.

15. Step 8 Revise the draft policy document • Step 9 Hold a National workshop to review the revised draft. • Step 10 Finalize the National Organic Agricultural Policy Document. • Step 11 Forward the final draft to the relevant Minister (MAAIF) for onward transmission to Cabinet • Step 12 Obtain Cabinet approval.

16. Note: • A policy is as good as the information base that informs its formulation. Even where there is scanty information available, policies may still be developed, but should have the flexibility to accommodate new information when it becomes available.

17. Characteristics of a good Policy A good policy should have the following attributes. • It should be realistic (implementable) easy to understand, consistent and specific with what it intends to achieve. • It should be flexible enough to change with time as need arises, especially in view of achievements registered and with new and emerging issues.

18. Cont. • It should be consistently responsive to its context. • It should be grounded within the socio-cultural atmosphere of the area (country) in which it is meant to operate to avoid being outlandish (strange/alien). • It should embrace institutional networking with other partners (Central Government, Local Governments, NGOs, CBOs, Communities) where such networking is a necessity to its success.

19. What a Policy is not • Policy is not legislation but a guide to legislation. Legislation only assists in the smooth implementation of policy. It is part of the means to execution of the formulated policy. • Policy is not an abstract wish but a response to needs/demands of socio-political and economic context out of which it evolves. It is a decision to do things in response to the popular demands of the day. That is why it should be participatory. • Policy is not static but dynamic. It arises out of need and is retired when the need is satisfied. No single policy lasts forever. • Policy is not timeless wish but an expression of what should be done in response to felt needs and in relation to time.

20. Common terminologies in the policy process Policy Goal (The Intention of the Policy) • This is what the policy intends to achieve; it is characteristically a broad statement of intention. Policy Principle (Trend Conviction) • These are values in whose defense the policy is made. They are the concepts which should be embodied in the objectives.

21. Policy Objectives (What to do) • These are specific milestones or targets to cover/achieve in moving/reaching towards the goal. Policy Implementation Strategy (How to get there) • A coordinated set of decision describing how the set targets will be achieved. This refers to the means by which the implementing authority, for example Government of Uganda, or District Local Government intends to reach the objectives. It is a how to.

22. Cont. Information System • Any system whether manual or computerized that enables collection, collation (organization), analysis, storage, retrieval and dissemination of date and information, to the deserving publics. Indicators • An indicator is the proof that the systematic inputs are producing the desired scheduled outputs. In other words indicators measure how well the policy objectives are being met. It is important that indicators have a quantity, quality and time dimension.

23. Institutional Arrangements • These are the participating institutions/partners in the policy process and especially during formulation and implementation. Such could include Local Councils, NGOs, Cultural Institutions, National Legislative Assemblies, Civil Service Departments, Urban Authorities, and Professional Association.

24. END THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR ATTENTION!!!