Policymakers, agribusiness leaders, financiers, researchers, and development partners converged at the Uganda Industrial Research Institute, Namanve, to discuss advanced dialogue and commitments towards strengthening investments in Uganda’s agrifood systems.
The engagement generated high-level discussions on innovative financing mechanisms and unlock new opportunities for public and private investment in key agricultural value chains.
Yerdalem Taagas Beraki, the FAO Uganda Country Representative, emphasised that the conference came at a strategic moment when the global community and agenda are progressing towards the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development Goals.
In addition, he said that the African Union recently adopted the third collaboration strategy, 2026 to 2035 with the mission of building a resilient and low food system for Africa.
“FAO is ensuring that people in Africa and other countries have enough food and this is done through building dams to provide water for irrigation and home consumption among other initiatives,” Beraki said.
The engagement was under the theme, “Catalysing Innovative Financing and Investments in Uganda’s Agrifood Systems for Accelerated Socio-Economic Transformation and Sustainable Development.”
In his speech, Bright Rwamirama, the Minister of Animals at MAAIF, noted that FAO has continued to stand out as one of the steadfast relying partners, saying, “We greatly appreciate the technical support provided to the government of Uganda, especially in agriculture and industry and for efficiency.”
“Our agro food system continues to anchor the national economy, contributing 24% of GDP, accounting for 33% of export earnings and 80% of our industry are Agri based, employing also 70% of our population, directly and indirectly,” he noted.
The Minister also stated that the country’s economy is now booming with good jobs and sustainable income utilising the rapidly growing Ugandan food system.
“The 2024 Food Security and Nutrition report in Uganda indicated that 34% Ugandans remain untouched, and more than 12 million people face food insecurity, while the national poverty rate has declined from 20 to 16% the burden of the extreme poverty remains High in eastern and northern Uganda.”
In conclusion, Rwamirama said that the government has previously invested significantly in the foreign areas enhancing agricultural research innovation through advanced breeding programs and growing of improved crop as well as livestock, strengthening pest and disease, pest disease and vector control, safeguard production for worse and home, crops and facilitate access both local and export markets demanding water to production infrastructure, including the construction of oil dams, tanks and schemes to mitigate the effects of climate variability.
About The Author
