To answer this question, a Qualitative, participatory, research was undertaken by Economic Policy Research Centre (EPRC) by engaging different rice value chain stakeholders. Research was conducted through two case studies on domestic private sector investment: Equator Seeds Ltd., a domestic seed company investing in new rice seeds in Northern Uganda Centenary Bank, a commercial bank providing financial services for rice value chain actors in Eastern Uganda The study is timely because of the following reasons: The meeting comes after launch of Sustainable Development Goals and Paris Agreement. The two seek to leave no one behind in climate change risk management. 64 percent of global swamps have been depleted. In Uganda, particularly Kampala, the cost of treating water has gone up by five percent. This constrains the already poor budget.  Climate change is real and Uganda has had its real share as seen in recent mountain slides, floods and droughts. Studies point o...

A new collaborative study conducted by the Economic Policy Research Centre (EPRC) and the International Institute of Sustainable Development (IISD) has revealed that risks and uncertainty from climate change impacts the entire rice value chain. The study was code-named; ‘Private sector investment in a changing climate: Resilient rice value chain development (PSI-Climate). The study focused on rice value chains since rice is one of the priority crops for the Government of Uganda in improving food security and household income. The research was conducted through two case studies on domestic private sector investment. This involved Equator Seeds Ltd, a domestic seed company investing in new rice seeds in Northern Uganda and Centenary Bank, a commercial bank providing financial services for rice value chain actors in Eastern Uganda. Among the impacts of climate change included the increased drought frequency and intensity, rising temperatures, and change in seasonal rainfall distribution. ...

aBi Trust, an agriculture investment fund in Uganda has revealed plans to step away from just offering grants to more sustainable services such as loans. These remarks were made by Josephine Mukumbya on the second day of the Uganda Agriculture Financing Conference. Among its future plans, the aBi Trust will progress to offering improved integration of services as it seeks to attain sustainability. There will also be a more structured approach to agribusiness knowledge with aBi trust planning a one-stop centre for agribusiness information. Above all, the Trust will broaden its prospective and include more middle income upcoming agripreneurs. Mukumbya also explained that as far as sustainability is concerned, the fund will promote socially responsible investing. "We are also keen on social responsibility investment in terms of environmental, audit, and gender among others,"she explained. aBi Trust has 63 partners in value chain development and 18 partners especially finan...

Deloitte and PearlCapital have revealed that Uganda will be the lucky recipient of a $30 million agribusiness investment fund in 2016. The fund code-named; "Small and Medium Agribusiness Development Fund" is targeting 20-30 SMEs in Uganda. Speaking about the fund, Tom an official from PearlCapital revealed that additional employment and improved access to markets for 26,000 will be the target impact metrics.  PearlCapital has invested in substantial seed companies among which is  KK fresh produce and Bee Natural Uganda. Their model is to invest risk-capital in the sector while working actively with the investees.  "Although we are an impact investing business, we measure our success depending on a number of metrics such as employment but we also consider the financial criteria. We structure our investment to give our invests the best chance of success but also ensure best ROI for our investors," PearlCapital clarified.  Quick Summary of the Fund...

Dr. Louis Kasekende, the Deputy Governor of Bank of Uganda made interesting remarks at the launch of the 2015 Agricultural Finance Yearbook. Here are some of the highlights of his speech as Guest of Honour.  Budgetary resources are scarce, investment is prioritised on goods/services that benefit the public for example extension services.  Public expenditure on goods and services particularly on  research and extension services must be increased. Farmers need a holistic support package of improved seeds, provision of fertilisers etc and not limited to just finance  If we are to solve the problem of unemployment in Uganda, we must focus on Agriculture. 

Judith Bakirya, a farmer and a discussant at the launch of the 2015 Agricultural Finance Yearbook has called upon for focus on smallholder farmers. In her view, success in the agricultural sector will only be realised when banks and the stakeholders at are understand the mindset of the smallholder farmer.  “The reason mobile money, phone, and bodabodas are succeeding in Uganda is because they're individual and small,” Bakirya noted. “We need to change the mindset. A smallholder farmer is individual and small. How do we build on a farmer who works 80 percent?” She challenged the audience.  Bakirya further opined that for a smallholder farmer, a hoe does 80 percent of the work and the role of stakeholders was how to help them improve. “Without understanding smallholder farmers, products will come and go (without making impact),” she warned. 

The former Finance Minister of Uganda, Gerald Ssendaula has asked government and donors to increase funding allocations to agricultural research in the country. Ssendaula was speaking as one of the panelists at the launch of the 2015 Agricultural Finance Yearbook at Speke Resort Munyonyo. In his deliberations, Ssendaula said Agriculture was a sector the country couldn’t afford to give a row deal. “Agriculture pays when given the attention it deserves,” he explained. “If Uganda was importing food, the economy would be in shambles.”  Ssendaula said there was need for farmers groups in order to have collective bargaining while negotiating credit. Strongest of all, Ssendaula affirmed the need for research in the sector. “Research is key if Uganda's agriculture is to move to another level. Our coffee was attacked by wilt, it took more than 20 years to come up with replacement varieties due to lack of research,” said Ssendaula. Ssendaula had no kind words for those who formed...