Marketing policy for developing countries: the case for Uganda

Abstract

The need to diversify the agricultural sector and avoid dependence upon the export of a narrow range of crops has necessitated increasing participation in non-traditional crops trade. For an agro-based economy to expand and diversify beyond the traditional system, an appropriate production and marketing policy needs to be put in place, if Uganda is going to compete in the international market. The problems inherent in the produce trade and the difficulty of finding export markets for some of the crops justify the improvement of the domestic and export marketing system in order to be able to exploit any available market opportunities. If Uganda is going to compete in the international agricultural market on long-term sustainable basis, then policies that allow and encourage investment and freedom to import agricultural inputs and export agricultural products is essential. Only a modern commercial agricultural production and marketing system can expect to contribute in international trade and thereby contribute much to long-run development. Government and private leadership is required to support an open and competitive system based on laws that maintain competition and property rights and individual freedom to decide what to produce,, and what and where to market.