Africa-Press – Uganda. Uganda has the potential to feed more than 200 million people if its agricultural systems are fully optimized, a senior government official has said.
Speaking during an engagement with agricultural stakeholders, Patience Rwamigisa, Commissioner for Extension Services at the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), underscored Uganda’s vast agricultural potential and the government’s commitment to transforming the sector.
“Uganda has the capacity to feed 200 million people,” Rwamigisa stated confidently, adding that recent efforts to streamline government agencies under ministries are fostering more responsive and effective institutions.
“We are now building a strong, coordinated system that truly serves our farmers.”
Rwamigisa emphasised the ministry’s priority of ensuring that farmers receive high-quality, proven agricultural inputs and technologies.
“We are here with seriousness and commitment to make sure that farmers are receiving quality services using technologies that have also been demonstrated,” he said.
However, the commissioner also took aim at persistent malpractice in the agricultural supply chain, particularly the sale of counterfeit inputs.
“How do you feel when you knowingly sell a fake input?” he asked. “The farmer has cleared his land and invested resources – to sabotage that knowingly is economic sabotage.”
He called on agro-input dealers to uphold integrity in their work, stressing that genuine, albeit costly, products ultimately provide better value for both the farmer and the nation.
“It is better to sell a quality, expensive input than a cheap fake one that renders the farmer’s entire effort useless,” Rwamigisa urged. “At the end of the day, we need production.”
Rwamigisa also reiterated the government’s support for private sector players, promising a business-friendly environment to support agribusiness growth.
“We want to see you flourish and make money – because when you earn, government earns too. Let’s make money, but let’s do it honestly,” he said.
The engagement brought together public officials, farmers, and agribusiness stakeholders to explore strategies for transforming Uganda’s agriculture into a regional powerhouse.
The event comes as MAAIF, with support from the World Bank, rolls out the Uganda Climate Smart Agricultural Transformation Project – a six-year initiative covering 79 districts, including seven refugee-hosting areas.
The project aims to boost productivity, market access, and resilience across selected value chains such as coffee, cocoa, vegetables, and mangoes.
It also includes a contingency component to enable rapid response to eligible crises or emergencies.
Source: Nilepost News
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