The World Food Program (WFP) has contracted for about 45,000 tons of relief food worth some 10.5 million US dollars in Uganda, reported The New Vision newspaper on Thursday.

The WFP, the biggest buyer of food in Uganda, is there fore inviting farmers and traders to supply food, especially maize and beans.

Of the 75 contracts, 60 percent or 26,900 tons have been delivered on time. Twenty four percent are ongoing contracts, while 14 percent have not been completed within the specified time.

The WFP's market support officer Dorothy Kanyomozi was quoted as saying that the WFP wants to boost the local farmers by purchasing from those who can supply at least 50 tons.Kanyomozi said the farmers will register under a program for small-scale farmers.

"The WFP targets the purchasing at at least 10 percent of total yearly commodities, directly from small-scale farmers. We want to provide incentives to small-scale farmers and stimulate production," she said.

The WFP provides relief food to some 2.3 million vulnerable persons in Uganda, including 1.6 million displaced persons in conflict-torn northern Uganda and over 200,000 refugees from neighboring countries.

Source: Xinhua