National TV Spotlight: UAA Advocates for Better Roads to Secure Farmers’ Futures in West Nile
Watch the full UBC TV feature below and hear directly from the West Nile farmers and leaders:
The above feature by UBC TV News showcases the tangible successes of Uganda Agribusiness Alliance’s (UAA) five-year Power of Voices Partnerships (PVP) project, while underscoring a formidable remaining obstacle: the dire state of community feeder roads.
For the last 5 years, UAA under the Oxfam-funded Power of Voices Partnerships Project has been a dedicated partner to smallholder farmers in the West Nile Districts of Zombo, Arua & Nebbi, empowering them with the skills and knowledge to thrive in agribusiness. The results of this partnership are significant: 1,388 farmers (665 women and 723 men) have been trained in modern agribusiness practices for high-value horticulture crops like onions. This capacity-building initiative has successfully boosted agricultural productivity and strengthened market linkages, laying a strong foundation for economic growth in the region.
October 2023: Farmers in West Nile celebrate receiving quality seeds and tools from Uganda Agribusiness Alliance (UAA), putting their new training in Good Agricultural Practices into immediate action. This marked a crucial step in boosting horticulture production for the #PowerOfVoicesPartnerships project.
However, this foundation is at risk. The journey from farm to market is fraught with challenges that threaten to undo years of hard work. The poor road infrastructure means that farmers’ success ends at the edge of their fields.
The Infrastructure Bottleneck: A Direct Threat to Livelihoods
The above UNC feature highlights the voices of those on the front lines. Joyce Piwa, the Nebbi District Agricultural Officer, articulated the crisis clearly:
“The road network is very poor, such that when you grow these perishables, you are supposed to sell them out.”
This statement captures the essence of the problem. Farmers are engaged in a race against time. Perishables like horticulture produce get spoiled during the long bumpy rides to the market. This leads to devastating post-harvest losses, directly cutting into farmers’ incomes and demoralizing those who have invested their resources and labor.
The call for action extends to local government leadership. Gilbert Ocencean, the Nebbi Principal Assistant Chief Administrative Officer, emphasized the need for higher-level intervention, pointing out that local communities and sub-counties lack the resources to maintain these vital corridors. He called on the national government to prioritize tarmacking key roads in the hilly parts of the district, an investment crucial for unlocking the region’s full agricultural potential.
The Path Forward: A Unified Call to Action
The message from West Nile is clear and urgent. The investments made in farmer capacity are being undermined by a lack of investment in infrastructure. To protect these gains and accelerate growth, we join our partners in calling for:
- Prioritization of Feeder Roads: The government should allocate increased funding specifically for the rehabilitation and tarmacking of community feeder roads in agricultural hubs like West Nile.
- Public-Private Partnerships: Explore innovative models for infrastructure development that involve both government and private sector actors invested in the agricultural value chain.
- Sustained Dialogue: Maintain the platform created between farmers, local government, and national stakeholders to ensure these issues remain a priority.
March 2024 – Okello Alfonse, a PVP project farmer attached to Ayanyunga Micro Station in Nyapea Subcounty Zombo District, proudly displays his onion harvest. Okello is one of the 73 leaders of Small Scale Farmer groups who were trained by UAA in Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) plus GlobalG.A.P practices for horticulture Production.
UAA remains committed to its dual mission: building the capacity of farmers at the grassroots and advocating for the systemic changes necessary for their long-term success. We believe that with improved infrastructure, the incredible potential of West Nile’s agribusiness sector will truly flourish, ensuring food security and economic prosperity for the region.
Join the conversation and help us amplify these voices. Share this article and tag decision-makers. Together, we can build a brighter future for Ugandan agriculture.
For more information about the Power of Voices project, contact UAA at: info@ugagribusinessalliance.com