With the nationwide implementation of Parish Development Model (PDM), the role of standards is more crucial than ever.
Well aware that the goal of the PDM is to increase household incomes and improve quality of life of Ugandans with a specific focus on the total transformation of the subsistence household into the money economy, we are set as the standards prefect to play our desired role in the successful implementation of the programme.
Of the PDM seven Pillars, Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) has an important role in the Production, Storage, Processing and Marketing – which is also the number one pillar. This is because a key component of UNBS routine mandate rotates around this pillar.
Currently, the UNBS has prioritised standards that are critical in the realisation of the Parish Development model by emphasising the development and promotion of the standards that support key sectors of the economy and act as a catalyst for economic growth.
The priority commodities under the Parish Development model (PDM) such as coffee, cotton, cocoa, cassava, tea, vegetable oil, maize, rice, sugar cane, fish, diary, beef, bananas, beans, avocado and shea-nuts among others, all have respective standards.
This is particularly important considering that the mandate of UNBS is anchored on welfare and social, economic prosperity of the population.
Further, this is even highlighted in the World Standards Day, celebrated on an annual basis celebrated globally on 14th October to highlight the importance of standards in fostering quality, safety, and innovation in industry.
Standard “omutindo” is technically the minimum requirement. Much like a pass-mark in an examination. Standards also take into consideration a number of things. For example, food standards will dictate for the food to be safe when eaten or when a product is used, so that it never harms nor kills the consumer. And this already necessitates or even triggers our involvement in the PDM.
From the regulator’s side; we have developed minimum safety requirements for all products to bear. This means therefore, that every product must have minimum performance requirements, which define its intended purpose, and form the basis for building quality.
To date, UNBS has developed 4,862 standards in the areas of Food and agriculture, Engineering, Chemicals and consumer products and Management and services at national, regional and international levels.
We believe if standards become part and parcel of PDM as it should be, then it will be much easier for PDM products to access markets nationally, regionally and even internationally. This is already happening with grain value chain. For example the grain sector, by September 2024, over 630 grain and grain products mainly by MSMEs have UNBS Certification.
The UNBS current value proposition is to grow quality Micro, Small and Medium enterprises (MSMEs) through gap analysis, capacity building, training and hand holding them to enable them meet the quality standards and supply quality and certified products in the market.
UNBS has also decentralized Quality Infrastructure and other Standardization Services to the countryside with functional offices in Gulu,Lira,Jinja, Mbarara and Mbale. This has eased service delivery to our people thus enabling industries, especially Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), businesses and the general public to access standardization services without necessarily coming to Kampala.
Now, as we celebrate standards this year, its critical to explore avenues of embracing standardization in our national policies of Building and incorporating issues of quality and conformity to standards as a necessity in revamping the economy and reset the nation back on track to achieve not just the Sustainable Development Goals but also attain our development aspirations as we gear up for NDPIV.
Already the rollout of PDM is an important response towards enhancing household income and consolidating value addition. And our pledge as the standard body is that: we cannot wait to play our role in this space—PDM.
Author: Sylvia Kirabo (MCIPR, MCIM)
The Head of Public Relations &Marketing at Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS)
