Agro-processing facilities lie idle in Northern Uganda

GULU – At least 70 percent of the agro-processing facilities in Northern Uganda are reportedly lying idle affecting post-harvest management and the agricultural value chains.

The national coordinator for Operation Wealth Creation [OWC] Gen. Salim Saleh disclosed last Friday in Gulu while commissioning a multibillion fund for Saccos in Northern Uganda for agro-processing.

He said 115 of the agro-processing facilities have been established in the region but only at 30 percent function.

He however appealed to the region to invest in mass agricultural production to support the agro industrialization in line with the National Development Plan III which aims to push Uganda into a middle-income economy.

The Commissioner In charge of the local economic development in the Ministry of Local Government Andrew Karama said that the government had already spent Shs 162 billion to establish 280 agro-processing facilities across the country despite their underutilization.

Meanwhile, the Stanbic Bank Chief Executive Officer Anne Juuko has rallied farmers in the region to invest in mango fruit production for sustaining the manufacturing of the juice in the country.

She explained that the mango fruits for sustaining the country for industrialization are being imported from Kenya, which she said has affected the economy of the country for export.

She has however appealed to the government to collaborate with the private sector in supporting farmers and entrepreneurs in addressing the gaps in the broken value chain in production.

However, Gulu City Mayor Alfred Okwonga noted that there is need for the government to create more awareness to the producers on export promotion and linkage to better markets.

https://thecooperator.news/uganda-lacking-a-coherent-agro-industrialization-policy-eprcs-guloba/

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