By KT Reporter
Farmers in the Karamoja sub-region have been urged to embrace value chain enterprises under the Climate-Smart Agriculture Project as part of efforts to adapt to climate change.
On Tuesday, the Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment (ACODE), in partnership with Karamoja Herders of the Horn, convened a multi-stakeholder meeting in Moroto to stimulate private sector engagement in climate-smart investments for a more resilient Karamoja.
The meeting brought together private sector actors, local government representatives, civil society organizations, and financial institutions to unlock private capital and innovation to address climate challenges.
Abdallah Atibu, the Nakapiripirit District Agriculture Officer and focal point person for the Uganda Climate Smart Agricultural Transformation Project, said the initiative aims to improve crop and livestock value chains while building resilience.
Atibu explained that the project focuses on sorghum, cassava, and soybeans, alongside horticulture, black soldier fly farming, beekeeping, and beef value chains. He noted that farmers will be organized into groups, trained on selected enterprises, and supported through government-funded production plans.
He added that crop farmers are expected to open larger plots of land for cultivation, while livestock farmers will form groups of 10–15 members to co-fund breeding bulls for improved livestock multiplication. Beekeepers, he said, will also be supported in honey production and processing for income generation.
The project also targets opportunities in farm inputs, post-harvest handling, storage, fish farming, and road infrastructure. Atibu revealed that two 20-kilometer road sections in hard-to-access areas had been identified for verification before works begin.
Jonas Mbabazi, a researcher and project manager at ACODE, said the meeting was intended to highlight opportunities for climate-smart investments and address challenges such as limited access to loan facilities. He urged farmers and private actors to take advantage of government programs supporting green and agricultural financing.
Mbabazi noted that Post Bank is committed to providing tailored information on green investment opportunities under GROW (for women) and the Agricultural Credit Facility (ACF). He added that district production officers would continue sharing details about matching and non-matching grants under the Climate Smart Agriculture Project.
Dr. Ayub Mukisa, Executive Director of the Karamoja Anti-Corruption Coalition, emphasized the need for awareness and partnerships between government, donors, and the private sector to address vulnerability and resilience gaps in the sub-region.
Derrick Loumo, the Moroto District Senior Commercial Officer, cited poor land tenure systems as a major barrier to climate-smart agriculture, with most farmers relying on communal land. He said this prevents access to large-scale financing and called for policy revisions.
Loumo added that farmers with land titles could access agricultural loans at 10% interest under the Agricultural Credit Facility. He urged farmers to form associations for government support and to make use of the Nabuin Agricultural Research Institute for improved seeds and knowledge.
However, some farmers raised concerns about accessing agricultural loans. Model farmer Mark Sire noted that financial institutions often require large tracts of land, which excludes many smallholders in Moroto. He urged banks to consider small-scale farmers who want to scale up.
farmers, including John Rex Achilla from Kotido and Kidon Mike Onyang from Moroto, shared frustrations with financial institutions, citing unfair loan terms, misclassified facilities, and hidden charges.
Achilla said his application for a UGX 20 million agricultural loan from Post Bank was instead processed as a salary loan with higher interest, while Onyang accused banks of continuing deductions even after loan clearance.
Despite these challenges, stakeholders agreed that climate-smart agriculture remains a key pathway to building resilience, improving food security, and lifting households out of poverty in Karamoja.
-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
