Yara partners with Ugandan gov’t to boost agricultural standards

6 November 2024, 3:18 pm

By Shadrach Bethel Afayo

Yara East Africa recently held a training session at Eureka Hotel, Kampala, aimed at enhancing the expertise of government fertiliser inspectors from Uganda’s Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF).
This initiative is part of Yara’s commitment to lead a transformation toward a climate-neutral, regenerative, and prosperous food system.

The training focused on critical areas, including safeguarding farmers from counterfeit fertilisers, enhancing understanding of regulatory requirements, and supporting sustainable agricultural practices for a resilient food system in Uganda. This collaborative effort aligns with Yara’s vision of achieving climate neutrality through comprehensive partnerships.

“Today’s engagement represents a meaningful step forward in ensuring that fertilisers reaching farmers across Uganda are safe, reliable, and of high quality,” said William Ng’eno, Country Manager, Yara East Africa. “Our partnership with the Ugandan government allows us to share essential knowledge and work at a national level to maximise agricultural yields.”

The training comes at a time when Uganda’s Ministry of Agriculture is pursuing a bold vision to establish a competitive, profitable, and sustainable agricultural sector. According to Alex Otut, Senior Agriculture Inspector for Fertiliser Testing at MAAIF, “Building competitiveness locally is now our focus, and developing skilled, competent workers is a key part of this effort—today’s engagement with Yara has been instrumental in this regard.”

John Mwanja, Assistant Commissioner for Agrochemicals, Crop Inspection, and Certification at MAAIF, noted, “At MAAIF, we regulate the quality of agricultural inputs, including fertilisers, ensuring Ugandan farmers have access to high-standard products.” He commended Yara for consistently meeting these high benchmarks.

John Rotich, Commercial Manager of Yara Uganda, said, “With a strong local presence, Yara Uganda works alongside farmers, distributors, and stockists to close the knowledge gap among farmers.” He added, “One major challenge we encounter is the knowledge gap, which we’re addressing by deploying dedicated teams and establishing around 100 demonstration farms across the country.”

Yara remains a critical player in Uganda’s agricultural landscape, supplying around 30,000 metric tons of fertilisers annually. Through a robust network of 65 national distributors and 650 stockists, Yara ensures high-quality fertilisers are available to farmers.