Minister Tanna urges farmers to embrace commercial agriculture, strengthen cooperatives
KWEEN, November 12, 2026 — The Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Sanjay Tanna, has urged farmers in Kapchorwa and Kween districts to embrace commercial agriculture, strengthen cooperatives and adopt quality production standards to improve productivity and access reliable markets.
Tanna said stronger partnerships between farmers and manufacturers were critical to linking agriculture to industry, promoting agro-processing and increasing value addition.
He was speaking yesterday at the 2026 Kapchorwa/Kween Farmers’ Day celebrations held at the Cheminy Drying Facility in Kween district, alongside activities marking 75 years of Nile Breweries Limited [NBL] in Uganda.
“Farmers are the foundation of our economy. Your efforts in producing agricultural commodities sustain households, create employment, supply industries with raw materials and contribute to national economic growth,” Tanna said.
He commended NBL for strengthening the link between agriculture and manufacturing through its local sourcing programme, saying reliable markets give farmers the confidence to invest in production, improve farming practices and increase household incomes.
“Nile Breweries’ investment in local sourcing demonstrates how agriculture and manufacturing can grow together. By providing a market for Ugandan crops and investing in local processing, the company is connecting farmers to industry and supporting opportunities for employment,” he said.
Tanna said partnerships between manufacturers and farmers were essential to stimulating rural economic development, creating jobs and supporting government’s Buy Uganda Build Uganda [BUBU] policy.
He urged manufacturers to go beyond purchasing raw materials and invest in farmers through improved agricultural inputs, technical support and infrastructure to enhance production and profitability.
NBL used the celebrations to recognise more than 500 barley farmers in the Sebei Subregion for their contribution to Uganda’s agricultural value chain, reaffirming its commitment to supporting local production through improved inputs, technical training, post-harvest facilities and reliable markets.
The celebrations, held under the theme Cheers to Farmers, brought together farmers, government officials, agricultural stakeholders and business partners to recognise outstanding growers and promote practices aimed at increasing productivity and reducing post-harvest losses.
NBL currently supports more than 5,000 barley farmers in Sebei, who collectively supply over 10,000 metric tonnes of barley annually.
NBL spends Shs 156 billion on local sourcing
The brewery said more than 98 per cent of its raw materials are sourced locally, with annual expenditure on local sourcing exceeding Shs156 billion.
Through its Local Raw Material programme, the company provides farmers with improved seeds, agricultural advice from field officers and a ready market for their barley.
NBL Agro Manager Joseph Luzinda said the company supports more than 5,000 farmers in Sebei through training, subsidised agricultural inputs and technical guidance to improve productivity.
“Today we are here to celebrate our farmers. In Sebei, we support over 5,000 farmers. They are trained, and they give us over 10,000 metric tonnes,” Luzinda said.
He said the brewery supplies farmers with improved seeds and agrochemicals at subsidised prices to improve yields and the quality of their produce.
“We supply our farmers with seeds and agrochemicals at subsidised costs. We encourage farmers to continue supporting us, and we will continue supporting you,” he said.
Luzinda also acknowledged challenges raised by farmers, particularly a problem locally referred to as “Ezekwa”, saying the company was working with the National Agricultural Research Organisation [NARO] to identify possible solutions.
He further emphasised the importance of improving transport infrastructure, particularly the Kapchorwa-Suam road linking Uganda to Kenya, to ease the transportation of agricultural produce and minimise post-harvest losses.
Shs 4bln Cheminy facility addresses post-harvest losses
NBL has invested Shs 4bln in the Cheminy barley cleaning and drying facility to address challenges farmers previously faced in handling their harvests, particularly during rainy seasons.
The facility, which was commissioned in 2023, provides cleaning, drying and storage services to barley farmers in Kween, Kapchorwa and Bukwo districts.
Before its establishment, farmers often struggled to dry barley when harvesting coincided with rainy weather. This affected grain quality and made it difficult for some farmers to meet the standards required for malting.
The facility has improved post-harvest handling by reducing reliance on traditional open-air drying methods, helping farmers preserve the quality and commercial value of their produce.
NBL Managing Director Nkanyiso Mncwabe said farmers remained central to the brewery’s operations and long-term sustainability as the company marked 75 years in Uganda.
“As we mark 75 years in Uganda, we recognise the farmers whose work supplies our breweries and sustains farming communities. Our breweries depend on farmers being able to grow quality grain and make a living from it,” Mncwabe said.
He said the company supported farmers throughout the agricultural season, from providing improved seeds and agricultural advice to helping them handle their harvests.
“That is why we work with farmers throughout the season, from access to seed and agricultural advice to the handling of their harvests,” he said.
Mncwabe added that the Cheers to Farmers campaign provided an opportunity to appreciate farmers and recognise the progress made through their partnership with the company.
“Their success matters to the long-term future of Nile Breweries and to the communities in which we work,” he said.
Farmers credit brewery with improving livelihoods
Local leaders commended NBL for supporting agricultural production and improving the livelihoods of farming communities through market access and investments in post-harvest infrastructure.
Kamuchaki Augustine, the LC1 chairperson of Chemolon Cell, said the partnership had created economic opportunities for households by providing farmers with a reliable market for their produce.
“Income from farming helps families here pay school fees and supports trade in our community. We appreciate Nile Breweries’ partnership with our farmers, particularly the ready market for barley and the Cheminy facility that helps preserve grain quality after harvest,” Augustine said.
Kween District LC V Chairperson Paul Kapchemeiko Majinjach also praised the brewery for supporting farmers through improved seeds, agricultural extension services and post-harvest infrastructure.
“We thank Nile Breweries for the partnership it has built with farmers in Kween. Access to improved seed, agricultural advice and a ready market has supported our growers to produce and sell quality barley,” Majinjach said.
He said the Cheminy facility had helped address the drying and storage challenges previously experienced by farmers.
“We appreciate this investment in protecting the value of their harvests,” he added.
Farmers receive financial literacy training
Beyond providing agricultural inputs and market access, NBL has extended its farmer empowerment programmes to include financial literacy training.
The training covers budgeting, bookkeeping, savings and credit management to help farmers manage production costs, make informed financial decisions and plan how to utilise their agricultural earnings.
The initiative is intended to equip farmers with skills to translate agricultural income into improved household welfare and long-term financial security.
During the celebrations, agricultural extension officers conducted practical training on barley production, while outstanding farmers received awards in recognition of their performance and commitment to quality production.
The celebrations formed part of activities marking NBL’s 75 years of operations in Uganda, highlighting the brewery’s longstanding relationship with local farmers and its contribution to the country’s agricultural and manufacturing sectors.
With more than 5,000 barley farmers supported in Sebei, over 98 per cent of raw materials sourced locally and annual local sourcing expenditure exceeding Shs156 billion, NBL said its agricultural partnerships remained central to its operations.
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