Uganda: Govt Urges Scientists to Work Closely With Farmers On Agricultural Solutions

What the report says

Uganda’s Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries is urging scientists and extension workers to work more closely with farmers when designing agricultural solutions, according to Nile Post’s report distributed by AllAfrica. Speaking at the opening of the Enabling Rural Innovation (ERI) Programme symposium in Makindye, ministry official Angela Nanyenya said farmers should be treated as active innovators rather than only the final users of technology.

Nanyenya said effective agricultural progress depends on combining farmer knowledge with formal research, so that problems are identified, tested and adapted with input from researchers, extension staff, farmers and the private sector. She said farmers are already creating practical ideas across production, processing, branding, collective marketing and other parts of the value chain, and that these efforts can improve yields, incomes and food security.

The report also said development group Horizont3000 is preparing a Shs4.8 billion programme, funded through the Australian Development Agency, to expand the ERI approach from 2027 to 2030. The four-year plan is expected to reach about 5,940 farmers. It will focus on farmer-led innovation, market access, certification, post-harvest handling, pest management, digital communication and stronger participation by women, who the programme says often play a major role in production but have less control over farm income.

The article adds that the approach is intended to help farmers do more of their own market research and report field problems through tools such as WhatsApp, photos and audio messages, so that policies and services are more responsive to conditions on the ground.