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By Acen Branda
Agriculturalists have been encouraged to integrate value addition to allow farmers to reach wider regional or export markets rather than relying only on local fresh-market gluts.
This was during the Zombo district agricultural show and coffee conference that commenced on 11th-13th November 2026 at Kyambogo University playgrounds Paidha campus.
Representatives from the presidential initiative for skilling center industrial hub, Akaa sub county displayed shoes, waist belts, key holders as some of the end products from skins from goats and cows
Filipa Afoyorwoth, from Nature for Life beeking enterprise that entails value addition in bee keeping from removing raw propolis from the hives to attain propolis tincture that is medicinal in treating ulcers, coughs,wounds,diabetes besides having cosmetics for skin infections.
Sunday Rwothomio from Packwach district dealing in wood work art like animals, toy cars, with baboon apple tree as the raw material has become a skill he significantly earns a source of livelihood; while Gloria Fuacan, a simsim farmer stated after the harvest she makes simsim snacks in unique packaging shapes and sizes that stand out among similar competing brands.
Jennifer Mananu from Kawamwa dealing in coffee brewery and beverages like black coffee, cappuccino explained that roasting and branding coffee shifts the product towards consumer markets hence multiplying the per-kilogram economic value significantly.
"Processed and branded goods sell at significantly higher profit margins than raw wholesale crops with a kilogram ranging between UGX 40,000 – UGX 90,000 (depending on whether it is standard local grind or specialty brand packaging) while unprocessed coffee range between UGX5000 to UGX 17000 per kilogram depending on the variety and processing grade."
Zombo district agricultural officer Patrick Aneniu encouraged farmers to set up local processing, packaging, and marketing to create employment in rural and farming communities.
Patrick Aneniu encouraged the integration of value addition in the food chain business noting that local processing and packaging promotes rural small-to-medium enterprise (SME) growth and eventually increase in household incomes.
"Value- added goods let farmers move past local spot markets to supply supermarkets, shops, restaurants, restaurants, schools and even export channels."
government and private sector initiatives including pushes in the coffee and livestock sectors; emphasize shifting from the raw commodity exports to local agro processing, illing,packaging and branding to capture higher economic margins.
Zombo district production officer Dr Walter Kumakech noted that all stakeholders ought to embrace the idea of commercial agriculture, agro-processing and value addition to readily available raw materials in Zombo district.
Dr Walter Kumakech noted that preserved and semi-processed goods stabilize the food supply across lean and off-seasons to curb the challenge of climate variability and heat waves.
According to UNDP (United Nations Development Program) climate change adaptation, Uganda is ranked among the nations most vulnerable to climate change while having low institutional readiness. upto 81% of the population relies on rain-fed subsistence farming, making agricultural value chains highly exposed to droughts, erratic rainfall, rising temperatures and flooding.
By Acen Brenda
