Onion and garlic farmers urged to embrace value addition to boost profitability
KAMPALA, December 19, 2025 — Smallholder farmers in Uganda have been urged to adopt value addition across their agricultural value chains by transforming raw produce such as onions and garlic into processed products. The move is aimed at boosting profitability, reducing post-harvest losses and improving competitiveness in both local and export markets.
Victoria Sekitoleko, Founder and Board Chairperson of the Uganda Agribusiness Alliance [UAA], said value addition enables farmers to transition from subsistence agriculture to resilient and sustainable agribusiness enterprises.
She made the remarks during a high-level forum organised by UAA on December 16, at Hotel Africana in Kampala, under the theme “Agro-Industrialisation and Export: One Value Chain at a Time.”
During the event, smallholder farmers were encouraged to prioritise value addition in crops such as onions and garlic as a pathway to higher incomes and improved livelihoods.
The forum brought together government officials, private sector players, farmers, financiers and researchers to promote agro-industrial innovation and strengthen export-oriented agriculture.
Participants from West Nile districts including Zombo, Nebbi and Arua shared positive outcomes from training in quality production, marketing and onion value chain development.
Facilitators, including Sabiti Lords Compassion of Pakia Azi Micro Station in Warr Sub-county and AFCE Project Officer Muddy Oyikuru, called for stronger market linkages to ensure farmers benefit fully from value-added production.
Farmer Evelyn Akello from Nebbi district pledged to pass on the skills acquired to fellow farmers to increase productivity and incomes.
Akello said the training had empowered her to support other farmers by sharing the knowledge gained.
Sabiti noted that the forum had enhanced farmers’ capacity and morale in West Nile, particularly in Warr Sub-county.
“Farmers from West Nile feel motivated now that they can earn more from farming because we interacted with people with high levels of knowledge,” he said.
Onion and garlic growing is actively promoted in Uganda’s West Nile region through projects by organisations like the UAA, training over 1,000 farmers in modern techniques for better yields to meet market demand, with leaders pushing for integration into national programmes such as the government’s Parish Development Model [PDM] for sustainability, despite challenges with post-harvest losses, and access to technology.
However, farmers in the region [West Nile] are learning good agricultural practicesto produce higher quality crops for regional and international markets, focusing on aspects like soil, water, and pest management.
https://thecooperator.news/west-nile-farmers-receive-training-on-modern-rice-production/
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