Geraldine Ssali, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives, has advocated for a return to the cooperatives model to facilitate mass production, encouraging investment in decontamination technology and improved packaging for agricultural products.
She was Friday speaking during the graduation ceremony of Cohort 2&3 from dfcu bank’s Business Accelerator Program under the Agribusiness Development Centre (ADC).
ADC aims to support Agribusinesses in becoming self-sufficient.
In partnership with GOPA Worldwide Consultants and supported by dfcu, 36 dynamic enterprises mark a significant milestone in their entrepreneurial journey.
Launched in February 2023, Cohort 2&3 had 110 participants from 59 enterprises.
Of these, 52 participated in intensive training and mentorship sessions to build investment attractiveness with a focus on investment readiness, growth, and building networks.
Speaking at the event, Geraldine emphasized the need to prioritize agribusiness and focus on scaling up activities.
She highlighted the irony of underestimating agriculture despite its crucial role in ensuring food security.
She also called for access to affordable credit for farmers to ensure sustainable growth.
Karin Boven, the ADC patron and Ambassador of the Kingdom of Netherlands, highlighted the pivotal role of farming in wealth creation and propelling Uganda’s economy to new heights.
Recognizing the significance of ADC, she praised their efforts in advancing commercialized farming.
Karin urged everyone to work together towards the common goal of fostering agribusiness growth in Uganda.
“With collaboration and dedication, the agricultural sector can flourish, bringing about prosperity and opportunities for the country’s sustainable development,” she said.
Charles Mudiwa, dfcu CEO, urged entrepreneurs to strategize on scaling up operations, through robust structures and proper documentation, while exploring ways to create and find new markets.
He highlighted the difference between having a passion for agriculture and running it as a business, underlining the necessity of achieving profitability. He reassured entrepreneurs of dfcu’s support by providing funding to help them along the way.
Josephine Mukumbya, ADC Executive Director, extended gratitude to their funders dfcu and GIZ for making the program possible.
She emphasized the importance of walking the path together and highlighted ADC’s commitment to assisting graduates to reach the next level of success.
Grace Akatuha, one of the graduands and owner of Kikazi Agro Products, emphasized the significance of putting knowledge into action and highlighted the benefits of having robust structures in place.
Stressing the importance of proper documentation, Akatuha expressed her gratitude to ADC for providing valuable assistance in sorting out her paperwork.
Jimmy Byaruhanga, leader of the ECOS team, highlighted the distinctiveness of ADC’s Accelerator program in delivering substantial impact. Byaruhanga celebrated the spirit of entrepreneurship and resilience that ADC fosters to create a positive impact in the business world.
Christine Senteza from E4D emphasized their mission to enhance the competitiveness of enterprises.
She also highlighted their dedication to supporting businesses and empowering them to achieve greater heights through quality management programs.
The graduation ceremony ended in an award ceremony where participants were recognized for their remarkable achievements.
