By Melisa Komujuni

The Agriculture sector actors under their umbrella body the Agriculture Sector Network Uganda (ASENET) has urged Donor agencies and partners to quickly integrate climate change financing as a new norm to ensure viable agricultural development in Uganda. The call was made by the ASENET Executive Director, Mr Grace Musimami at a food systems conference organized to celebrate 20years of Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) in Kampala. Musimami said the low financing of the agriculture sector and reduced donor aid have negatively impacted the agriculture sector making financing towards climate change mitigation of less priority.

‘We have seen the impact; we are seeing the effects, it is becoming hard to achieve our agriculture targets due to the adverse effects of climate change. Donors have focused on improved productivity but less effort is supporting climate change adaptation, coping and mitigation; this makes it hard to attain our desired goals.” Adds Musimami.

Musimami further observed that despite the digital error, there was still need to establish good early warning systems to enable smallholder farmers and extension workers to access timely and credible information..

“We are in a deep crisis; farmers don’t have access to weather information, fewer advisory services, and many fake advisors have taken over the digital platforms to market their unverified information, as a sector network, we have committed to advocate for climate-friendly programming and focus on climate change mitigation-focused projects.” Adds Musimami

Representing the permanent secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Dr Patience Rwamigisa the assistant commissioner for extension, said the ministry appreciates the call by agriculture sector actors , saying already the Ministry of Agriculture was focused on ensuring green financing and ensuring climate-smart agriculture. Rwamigisa adds that despite the many interventions AGRA has done in last 20years, climate change remains a key identified challenge across which requires urgent attention.

 “We have seen the tremendous strides by AGRA over the last 20 years, there are visible and tangible milestones achieved in the transformation of Africa’s food systems; however, we need to quickly integrate climate mitigation as a core area for the next phase because it is an issue that has affected progression at most parts.” Adds Dr Rwamigisa.  

The colorful Uganda country celebrations held at Kampala Serena Hotel and attended by a rich sector stakeholder group, was blended with confessions of success stories, recollection of the journey and multiple policy panels to shape next 20years of AGRA priority interventions for Uganda.

The celebrations Under the theme, “Positioning Uganda as an Agricultural Powerhouse to Feed Africa

Through Commercial Agriculture and Resilient Agrifood Systems,” convened

distinguished leaders from across Uganda, including government officials, development

partners, private sector executives, farmers’ organizations, youth innovators, and

agricultural experts

For two decades, AGRA has worked alongside African governments, farmers, development

partners, research institutions, civil society, and the private sector to advance inclusive

agricultural transformation and strengthen food systems across the continent.

“This milestone marks not only a celebration of progress achieved but also an opportunity to

reflect on the collective efforts that have contributed to improving food security, increasing

farmer incomes, and building more resilient agricultural systems in Africa, Together, we will celebrate key achievements, recognize transformative partnerships, and engage in strategic dialogue on the future of Uganda’s food systems amid evolving global challenges and opportunities. .” Said David Wozemba the AGRA Country Director.

During the same event, participants engaged in high-level plenary discussions, keynote addresses, partner recognition segments, and a forward-looking dialogue on the next chapter of Uganda’s food

systems transformation.