Ssingo Chief Calls on Lwamata Farmers to Embrace Value Addition

What the report says

Farmers and livestock keepers in Lwamata Sub-county, in Uganda’s Buganda Kingdom, have been encouraged to focus on value addition and better product quality as a way to raise household incomes. The call came from Ssingo County Chief Deo Kagimu, who represents the Kabaka of Buganda, during a visit to agricultural activities being carried out by the kingdom’s local representatives. The engagement was also meant to review progress and hear directly from farmers about their opportunities and constraints.

According to Nile Post, Kagimu urged farmers to work collectively, improve farming practices and seek expert guidance so they can produce higher-quality crops and livestock products that fetch better returns in the market. He also promoted the Situla initiative, a Buganda Kingdom programme linked to Prime Minister Charles Peter Mayiga, which is intended to help farmers and livestock keepers strengthen production with technical support.

Farmers from Kidagazi, Bunga and Nsala villages displayed activities including coffee growing, banana cultivation, vegetable farming and animal husbandry. They said these enterprises have helped them pay school fees, build homes and meet other needs. However, they also raised concerns about unreliable and costly agricultural inputs and veterinary medicines, saying some products are ineffective or may even damage crops or fail to treat animals properly.

The report indicates the kingdom’s broader push is aimed at improving agricultural productivity and market participation. More generally, efforts to add value at farm level are often seen as important because they can improve bargaining power and help producers earn more from the same output.