: Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa has called for increased investment in Uganda’s agricultural sector, highlighting its potential to drive economic transformation. Speaking at the flagging off ceremony for Uganda’s top 13 farmers of 2023 at DFCU headquarters, Tayebwa emphasised the urgent need to move away from rain-fed agriculture and embrace modern farming techniques like mechanisation and irrigation.
"Africa boasts 174 million hectares of arable land, but 95% is rain-fed," Tayebwa noted, pointing out that this over-reliance on natural forces is a major barrier to achieving food security and economic growth. "We cannot continue depending on nature to feed our country. We need to invest in irrigation and mechanisation to boost production."
His remarks come at a time when Uganda is struggling to boost agricultural output, despite its enormous potential. Tayebwa underlined that agriculture remains the backbone of Uganda’s economy, with the European Union (EU) accounting for over 20% of Uganda’s exports, primarily agricultural products. However, he expressed concern over the stringent EU regulations, which often hinder the country's exports.
“We export a significant amount of agricultural products to the EU, but the standards imposed are tough on our farmers. Ironically, when Europeans visit Uganda, they enjoy the same produce without issues,” Tayebwa remarked. He called for dialogue between Uganda and the EU to create fair regulatory standards that will not burden Uganda’s farmers.
“We don’t want to stifle our farmers with regulations on deforestation, cocoa, tea, and other products. We need to work collaboratively to implement these regulations safely,” he added.
Tayebwa also stressed the importance of balancing production for local markets with export goals. He pointed out that the government has allocated funds through the Central Bank to support agricultural projects in partnership with local banks.
On government interventions, Tayebwa expressed confidence in ongoing projects aimed at enhancing the agricultural sector, including a €100 million irrigation initiative with Nexus Green. “With more intentional government efforts, I believe agriculture is going to be a key sector in transforming our economy,” he said.
However, Tayebwa warned that simply sending farmers abroad for training, such as the Netherlands trip, is not enough. The government must ensure farmers receive adequate support upon their return so they can implement the knowledge they acquire.
“Going to the Netherlands for training is just the beginning. We must support these farmers when they return so they can apply what they’ve learned. Otherwise, it will be a missed opportunity,” Tayebwa cautioned.
One of the farmers heading to the Netherlands, Paul Owor, Managing Director of OP Dairy Farm, expressed his eagerness to learn about value addition for his dairy products and explore mechanisation options.
