Empowering youth through agribusiness parks in Uganda

8 November 2024

The ENABLE-TAAT project in Uganda is creating job opportunities for youth in the agricultural sector by providing access to innovative agricultural technologies, capacity building, and entrepreneurial skills. The project boosts the productivity and profitability of Ugandan agripreneurs across value chains such as maize, cassava, aquaculture, and livestock using an Agribusiness Park model.

The Agribusiness Park model engages youth in hands-on farming, processing, storage, and marketing training. This practical experience ensures they build sustainable careers while significantly contributing to Uganda's food security and economic development.

The impact of the agribusiness parks is already evident, as demonstrated by a successful first harvest across the operation clusters. In the maize cluster in Sendusu, youth agripreneurs cultivated 3 acres of land and produced an impressive 4 tons of maize. Similarly, at the Improved High Biomass (IHB) Agribusiness Park, they harvested 2 tons of IHB from the same acreage. The horticulture cluster has also successfully harvested tomatoes and cabbages, increasing food availability, with much of the produce sold at local and regional markets.

The youth-led operations have also been highly profitable, covering operational costs and demonstrating the financial potential of agribusiness. The maize cluster earned US$1,080, the IHB cluster generated $1,350, and the horticulture cluster brought in $800 from producing, sourcing, and marketing tomatoes and cabbages. These earnings enabled the Mukono Youth Agripreneurs Cooperative (MYAC) to fund three months of the Chairperson's costs, proving that youth-driven agribusiness can drive financial independence.

The horticulture cluster achieved remarkable success in penetrating export markets. With the support of Mukono's District Commercial Officer, Ntege Kenneth, the team successfully secured tomato export opportunities to neighboring countries like Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), significantly expanding their market reach and profitability.

ENABLE-TAAT further strengthens these clusters by providing technical guidance and mentorship. The project encourages young people to adopt sustainable agricultural techniques and connects them to TAAT technologies and resilient crop varieties. Training in record-keeping, crop spacing, drought-resistant varieties, and efficient farm management has been key to boosting productivity and sustainability.

These success stories prove that the Agribusiness Park model transforms the lives of young people. By offering access to land, training, and market opportunities, these parks increase food production, empower youth to achieve financial independence, and contribute meaningfully to their communities. The initiative shows that with the proper support, youth can thrive in agriculture, creating sustainable futures and driving the growth of resilient food systems in Uganda.

Contributed by Jesutofunmi Robinson