Experts advise southwesterners to utilise cross boarder points for agro-exports

10 May 2023, 12:37 pm

Byamukama Aloious

A section of experts in farming have advised farmers and those interested in agriculture in southwestern region of Uganda to use the opportunity of boarder points available in the region to expert agro-products.

Speaking to youths from southwestern Uganda who attended a two day south western Business Symposium and Cultural immersion at Guide Leisure Farm in Najjera, The Leisure farm founder Prof. Gudula Naiga Basaza told young farmers that Western has been gifted to boarder 3 countries which would consume the farm products if they utilize the market available. The business symposium attracted youths from Isingiro, Kihuruhara, Kabale, Kisoro, kazo among others

‘’South western is bordering with Tanzania, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo which is a direct market for you young farmers in the 18 districts of south western”. Isingiro alone produces 500 tracks of Matooke to Kampala Metropolitan, Kisoro and Kigezi produces many tarns of Irish where districts like Kiruhura produces a hundred thousands of milk per year, she adds.

Prof. Gudula has also called on investors to get interested in the region because there are a lot of value addition need in the in agro produce. ‘’the Matooke in from Isingiro would not transported in batches to market, the is need to get from the Matooke like bakery products, beverages, animal feeds and cosmetics and banana sheath can be used a manure but there are less technologies to help in solving this problem”.

In the same way, Roland Agaba, the innovation project head in Kigezi for National Agricultural Research organization NARO, Pledged to continue partnering with Gudie leisure Farm to train young farmer and those interested in farming to get modern farming methods to in order to get good yields using small plots of land. He added that NARO is currently providing opportunities to all who want to join Agriculture a 3 month training which is cost free in order to help farmers get agro-technologies to match the current farming trend. He wants South Western Ugandans to venture in such training opportunities at NARO and from Gudie to be able to produce highly and get markets at boarder points

Deo Nyago, from Tourism industry said the region can also venture in Tourism trade to be able to get in money but also make their region known outside, ‘’There is a for good transportation, hotels and conservation ‘’Nyago said. He says youths can join local tourism by creating transportation companies, associations

‘’Uganda’s Tourism sector recovered faster after covid19  as it’s the 2^nd after Nigeria and I believe South western tourism sites can do more better if young people, investors  join in ‘’