i

AGRI-PROFOCUS UGANDA

SITUATION ANALYSIS OF YOUTH IN AGRIBUSINESS IN

UGANDA

By Bugaari Ambrose & Zake

Joshua

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Table of contents

Acknowledgement .................................................................................................... vii

1.0 Background ......................................................................................................... 1

1.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 1

1.2 Specific objectives of the study .............................................................................. 4

1.3.Expected outputs of the study ................................................................................ 4

2.0 Methodology and approaches used in conducting the situational analysis ..................... 4

3.0 Results from the study……………………………………………………………………...............................6

3.1 Sample size characterization .................................................................................. 6

3.2 Overview of existing youth definitions ..................................................................... 8

3.3. Categorization of youth into different groups with clear distinctive features ................. 9

4.0 Issues and challenges facing youth in agri-business……………………………….....................10

4.1 Why youth shun agri-business .............................................................................. 10

4.2 Youth perceptions of why they shun agri-business .................................................. 10

4.3. Ranking of youth perceptions of why they shun agribusiness ................................... 12

4.4. Gender dimensions of youth perceptions of why they shun agriculture………………………………………….12 5.0 Strategies engaging youth in agricultural value chains at the national level ................ 12

5.1 Key informant responses about what should be done to promote youth engagement in

agricultural value chains ........................................................................................... 13

5.2. Broader strategic actions towards long-term engagements and benefits for youth in

agri-business ........................................................................................................... 15

5.3 Youth perceptions of sub-sectors which they are interested to engage in ................... 15

5.4 Youth perceptions of segments along the value chain which they are interested to

engage in ................................................................................................................ 16

6.0 Key International, Sub-regional and National levels initiatives for advancing youth

engagement in agribusiness ...................................................................................... 17

6.1 International level............................................................................................... 17

6.2 Sub-region level ................................................................................................. 17

6.3 National level ..................................................................................................... 18

7.0 Key stakeholders engaging youth in agri-businesses in Uganda ................................ 20

7.1 An overview of national policies that have a direct influence on youth participation in

Agri-business ........................................................................................................... 21

7.2 Analysis of existing strengths, weaknesses, threats, and emerging opportunities for

youth engagement in agri-business in Uganda ............................................................. 25

8.0 Conclusions and recommendations………………………………………………………………………………….27

8.1 Conclusions ........................................................................................................ 27

8.2 Recommendations .............................................................................................. 27

Annex 1 – Example of some of the key stakeholder’s initiatives engaging youth in

agribusiness in Uganda. ............................................................................................ 31

Annex 2 – List of respondents (youth groups) involved in focus group discussions ............ 40

Annex 3– List of key informants ................................................................................. 41

Annex 4– List of stakeholders involved in the consultative and validation meeting ............ 42

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List of Figures

Figure 1. Youth interviewed based on gender (N=384). .................................................. 6

Figure 2. Age bracket of the respondents (N=384). ........................................................ 7

Figure 3. Number of youth interviewed per region (N=384). ............................................ 8

Figure 4. Categorization of youth according to age bracket (N=384). ................................ 9

Figure 5. Ranking of reasons why youth are not engaged in agribusiness (N=384). ......... 12

Figure 6. Youth perceptions of sub-sectors which they are interested to engage in (=384).

.............................................................................................................................. 16

Figure 7. Youth perceptions of their interests along the agricultural value chains (N=384). 16

List of Tables

Table 1. Employment sector dynamics by age group and year – cohort analysis (%) .......... 2

Table 2 .Youth employment by sector and background characteristics – cohort analysis (%)2

Table 3. Main activity of the youth in Agricultural households .......................................... 3

Table 4. Involvement of youth in Agriculture………………………………………….............……………10

Table 5. Key programs/project strategies engaging youth in agricultural value chains at the

national level…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..13

Table 6. Major stakeholders engaging youth in agri-business in Uganda…………………………….20

Table 7. Key national policies and programs with direct influence on youth engagement in

agri-business in Uganda……………………………………………………………………………………………………….…21

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Executive summary

Uganda’s population currently stands at about 36 million people (UBOS 2014) and growing

fast and is expected to double over the course of the next 20 years. The bulk of this

population however, is comprised of young people. Over 28 million Ugandans are aged

below 30 years and an estimated 8 million of these are aged between 18-30 years. Less

than 1 in 100 youth have been educated to degree level and a majority of them are either

jobless (1 of every 5) and about 6 in 10 are self-employed (UBOS 2014).

Therefore, the importance of improving the incomes of young people in Uganda’s agriculture

sector cannot be overstated.

The specific objectives for the situation analysis study were as follows:

(i) Provide an overview of existing youth definitions and categorization of youth into

different groups with clear distinctive features;

ii) Examine and describe the issues and challenges that the youth both male and female are

facing, specifically in relation to agri-business;

iii) Determine strategies at the national level through which youth both male and female are

engaging and potential agricultural sub-sectors and the specific levels in the agricultural

value chain that the youth could be potentially engaged in;

v) Identify the different stakeholders (including youth individuals, organizations,

associations and companies) that are engaging youth in agribusiness across Uganda;

vi) Provide an overview of national policies with direct influence on youth participation in

Agribusiness;

vii) Establish and analyze existing and emerging opportunities and motivations for youth

both male and female participation in Agribusiness;

viii) Compare and contrast with international perspectives on youth in Agribusiness.

The situation analysis study was conducted using several methodologies and approaches

which included the following: Inception meeting with Agri-ProFocus-Uganda Coordination

Team; Literature review; Preparation and administration of study tools (semi-structured

questionnaires , key informant check lists and Focus group discussions); Data entry,

analysis and synthesis; Report writing and presentation during a stakeholders consultative

and validation workshop. Overall the study involved 384 respondents and 20 key informants

randomly and purposively selected respectively.

In light of the study objectives, the following are the key results:

An overview of existing youth definitions and categorization of youth

Youth can be defined from two viewpoints: the age based and sociological. Taking into

consideration the age based viewpoint, The National Youth Policy (2001) defines youth, ‘as

all young persons; female and male aged 12 to 30 years.’

There are other definitions by the International Labor Organization, African Youth Charter

(2006), the World Bank and the United Nations, the Commonwealth and Danish Youth

Council. Likewise, all these define youth based on age categorization.

The majority of respondents (65%) indicated that the minimum age at which people started

to be described as youth was 18 and the maximum age at which people stopped being

described as youth was 35.Eighteen (18%) of the respondents indicated that the minimum

age at which people started to be described as youth was 18 and the maximum age at

which people stopped being described as youth was 30 years.

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Whereas there are sub-regional, regional and international policies supporting youth

development, they do not strongly focus on promoting and supporting youth engagement in

agri-business. Additionally, these policies have not yet been effectively translated into

national policies, programs and actions for implementation at the local and community

levels to further benefit youth engagements in agri-business.

Key national level strategies engaging youth in agricultural value chains

There exist some national level programs and strategies engaging youth in agricultural

value chains (Table 5). Subsequently, there are several stakeholders engaging youth in the

implementation of these programs and strategies. The stakeholders are categorized as

enabling ministries and departments; local government youth based non-governmental

organizations, non-governmental organizations, international non-governmental

organizations, cultural institutions, religious institutions, media and private sector (Table 6).

However, the existing programs and strategies do not consciously/entirely focus on youth

per se. The stakeholders involved in the implementations of these programs and strategies

should change their roles towards advancing youth engagement in agri-business. In

addition, there is a dearth of information in respect to the number of youth benefiting from

these programs and their impact on the participating youth livelihood.

Thus, the key existing supportive national policies with direct influence on youth

engagement in agri-business (Table 7) still have some gaps, which must be addressed for

achievement of this goal.

Key issues and challenges faced by youth in agri-business in Uganda

Respondents and key informants indicated that the youth shun agribusiness due to the

following reasons which are generally similar to those earlier raised by Action Alert (2013);

Agasha (2014); and Oluwaseum (2014):

• Farming takes longer time to get results;

• Lack skills and knowledge on modern farming practices ;

• Risky business;

• Negative image (perception) of agriculture;

• Negative attitudes of youth towards agriculture;

• Lack of role models;

• Laziness;

• Education and societal expectations;

• Little encouragement from parents;

• Government low investment in agriculture;

• Limited access to capital;

• Wrong perception that agri-business is not profitable.

However, despite the perception that youth are not interested in agriculture (Action Alert

2013; Agasha 2014; and Oluwaseum 2014), many youth interviewed from the rural areas in

some districts such as Bulisa and Luwero indicated that they were interested and involved in

agriculture (albeit ) on a small scale and on part-time basis (only busy during the rainy

season).

Furthermore, there exist key emerging opportunities for youth engagement in agri-business

in Uganda. These must be harnessed and consolidated and include the following:

• Existing policy environment and framework for youth engagement in agri-business at

international, sub-regional and national levels;

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• Agriculture is recognized by the government of Uganda as a source of growth,

employment and poverty eradication (National Development Plan 2010-1015,

Uganda Vision 2040);

• Additionally the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development

underscores government willingness to undertake investments that will make

agriculture more attractive and profitable. For example government allocated UGX 25

billion under the Youth Venture Capital Fund and part of this money will be used by

the youth to undertake agriculture related enterprises;

• The energy and enthusiasm of youth when applied appropriately would advance

productivity of agri-businesses;

• Agribusiness provides gainful employment for livelihood for youth;

• Availability of information about both traditional and modern farming practices and

methods;

• Existence of several Non-governmental organization providing agricultural extension

and support services (such as skills, inputs, market linkages and market

information);

• Development partners are willing to promote initiatives which support youth

engagement in agri-business through implementation of youth development and

livelihood programs;

• Uganda is urbanizing and will continue to do so and therefore, this presents an

opportunity (market) for the youth in farming to sell their produce (food);

• Existing institutions for training youth in agri-business.

We conclude that productive involvement of youth in agri-business in Uganda is a great

opportunity and spring board for increased and sustainable productivity, wealth creation,

employment and economic development considering an agricultural sector which is suffering

from an aging generation of farmers. There are various opportunities which youth should

tap into as motivation for engaging in agri-business. Despite the existence of various

supportive policies, programs and initiatives at the local, national and international levels

which promote youth participation in agri-business, there are several challenges for youth

engagement in agri-business. These must be addressed going forward through active

involvement of key stakeholders each effectively implementing their roles to advance youth

participation in agri-business.

A future study should focus on generation of information and data about the impact of

implementation of several policies and programs on youth livelihood and the number of

youth involved and benefiting from these initiatives. This information will be used as a basis

for future decision making to advance youth engagement in agri-business at different scales

(local, national, sub-regional and international).

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Acknowledgement

The situation analysis study for youth engagement in agribusiness in Uganda was informed

by inputs from several individuals and organizations engaged through interviews,

consultative and validation meetings. They have been enlisted in annex 2, 3 and 4 and their

contributions and time is very much appreciated.

Agri-ProFocus-Uganda is greatly thanked for the coordination and providing financial

resources which facilitated the conducting of the study.

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1.0 Background

1.1 Introduction

Uganda’s population currently stands at about 36 million people (UBOS 2014) and growing

fast and is expected to double over the course of the next 20 years. The bulk of this

population however, is comprised of young people. Over 28 million Ugandans are aged

below 30 years and an estimated 8 million of these are aged between 18-30 years. Less

than 1 in 100 youth have been educated to degree level and a majority of them are either

jobless (1 of every 5) and about 6 in 10 are self-employed (UBOS 2014). Therefore, the

importance of improving the incomes of young people in Uganda’s agriculture sector cannot

be overstated.

Creating economic opportunities for young people in Uganda, has become a pressing issue ,

with the government, policymakers, development agencies and funders all seeking

effective and sustainable solutions. The International Labor Organization estimates that

from 2000 to 2007, Africa’s working-age population grew by 96 million, while the number of

jobs grew by only 63 million and fewer than 16 million of these jobs were for young people

between the ages of 15 and 24 (Africa Economic Outlook 2012). In Uganda, 80% of the

nation’s unemployed are youth (International Youth Foundation 2011). Therefore, there is

an urgent need for generation of economic opportunities that will address the demands of

Uganda’s rapidly growing youth population. Uganda has a high concentration of young

people, between the ages of 15 and 24 representing 20% of the population (World Bank

2012) and a significant proportion of these young people have been unable to access the

kinds of economic opportunities that lead to a sustainable livelihood.

According to Ahaibwe et al. (2013), in Uganda, the agriculture sector employs large

numbers of young people i.e. about 73% in 2005/6 (Table 1). Wereas the sector still

remains a source of livelihood for majority of youth, by 2009/10 the proportion of youth

employed in agriculture reduced to 64%. A similar trend is observed by other African

Countries based on reports by FAC, (2010). Furthermore, for Uganda the share of youth

joining the services sector increased from 19.5% in 2005/6 to 27% in 2009/10 (Table 1).

The same report by Ahaibwe et al. (2013) revealed that by 2009/10 a large proportion

(74%) or rural youth were involved in agriculture compared to 13% in urban areas (Table

2). Thus, in the urban areas, youth were most engaged in the services sector (71%).

Furthermore, the rate at which rural youth are leaving agriculture is higher than that for the

urban youth (Table 2). The report also confirmed that the more educated youth are less

involved in agriculture. Hence in 2005/6, 73% of the youth with secondary and post-

secondary education were involved in agriculture. However, by 2009/10, 33% of these

youth moved to services as the main sector of employment leaving 40% in the agricultural

sector (Table 2).

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Table 1. Employment sector dynamics by age group and year – cohort analysis

(%)

Source: Calculations by Ahaibwe et al. (2013) based on Uganda National Household Survey,

2005/6 and Uganda National Panel Survey 2009/10 individual data.

Table 2.Youth employment by sector and background characteristics – cohort

analysis (%)

Source: Calculations by Ahaibwe et al. (2013) based on Uganda National Household Survey,

2005/6 and Uganda National Panel Survey 2009/10 individual data.

Table 3 depicts that in agricultural households, 75% of youth are engaged in crop

production as the main activity. Thus, nearly two-thirds of youth are still employed in the

agricultural sector and a higher proportion of these are engaged in the production segment

of the agricultural value chain (Ahaibwe et al. 2013). The main activities which youth are

involved in at the household level (Table 3) (Ahaibwe et al. 2013), were similar to those

reported by IYF (2011).

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Table 3. Main activity of the youth in Agricultural households (%)

Source: Calculations by Ahaibwe et al. (2013) based on Uganda National Household Survey,

2005/6 and Uganda National Panel Survey 2009/10 individual data.

This trend of youth engagement (both males and females) in agribusiness could be

explained by the current challenges affecting the sector based on reports by MasterCard

Foundation (2014) and Actionaid (2012).These challenges include:

Traditional agriculture not being attractive to youth;

Highly fragmented markets of small-holder farms;

Low productivity and value;

Underdeveloped value chains (e.g. processing, storage and marketing);

Limited access to appropriate and affordable finance and financial services;

Difficulties in accessing and securing productive land;

Lack of production inputs;

Shortage of labor due to rural-urban migration;

Low prices for agricultural produce; and

Climate change;

Negative attitude toward agriculture.

Increased engagement of youth in agri-business1 presents several opportunities through

providing employment for youth for better livelihood and also replacement of aging farmers

for sustainable productivity of the agriculture sector for increased national growth and

development.

1 Agri-business refers to agriculture conducted strictly on commercial principles. According to Santacoloma et al. (2005), agri-business is defined as business expansion in the agriculture and rural sector and its chains, from relationships involving contracting structures, alliances and associations mainly carried out by the private sector, by producers of the agriculture sector that are sustainable in the long term. In addition to a joint association of farmers, it involves various exogenous agents and agro-industrial chains, and may or may not include the support of public policies

4

Despite this, there are limited studies with information about youth engagement in agri-

business (Ahaibwe et al. (2013). To further understand youth engagement in agri-business

in Uganda, this study sought to answer the following questions:

What are the existing youth definitions and categories?

What are the issues and challenges that the youth both male and female are facing,

specifically in relation to agri-business?

What strategies are engaging youth at the national level and what potential

agricultural value chains could youth be engaged in?

Who are the different stakeholders engaging youth across Uganda?

Which national policies have direct influence on youth participation in agri-business?

What are the existing and emerging opportunities and motivations for youth

participation in agri-business?

1.2 Specific objectives of the study

The specific objectives for the study were as follows:

i. Provide an overview of existing youth definitions and categorization of youth into

different groups with clear distinctive features;

ii. Examine and describe the issues and challenges that the youth both male and

female are facing, specifically in relation to agri-business;

iii. Determine strategies at the national level through which youth both male and female

are engaging and potential agricultural sub-sectors and the specific levels in the

agricultural value chain that the youth could be potentially engaged in;

iv. Identify the different stakeholders (including youth individuals, organizations,

associations and companies) that are engaging youth in agribusiness across Uganda;

v. Provide an overview of national policies that have a direct influence on youth

participation in Agri-business;

vi. Establish and analyze existing and emerging opportunities and motivations for youth

both male and female participation in Agri-business;

vii. Compare and contrast with international perspectives on youth in Agri-business.

1.3.Expected outputs of the study

This study sought to establish what is happening mainly at national level related to youth in

agri-business. However, inference and comparisons were made with the sub-regional and

international levels with respect to youth in agribusiness. The results of the situation

analysis will form the basis for the Innovation community on youth in agribusiness to

determine their areas of intervention that might have a significant influence on motivating

youth into agribusiness.

This study is expected to enable the various actors to have a clearer understanding of what

is happening with respect to youth in agribusiness across Uganda as well as the internal and

external factors that affect youth participation. As a result, various partners and

stakeholders would have a better chance of developing appropriate goals and objectives and

designing activities which would advance further engagement of youth in agri-business in

Uganda.

2.0 Methodology and approaches used in conducting the situational analysis

The situation analysis study was conducted using several methodologies and approaches

described as follows:

(i) Inception meeting with Agri-ProFocus-Uganda Coordination Team.The consultants held a

consultative meeting with the coordination team of Agri-ProFocus Uganda to further

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deliberate on the scope of work. The meeting provided an opportunity for further

clarifications about the assignment, particularly the scope and expectations. The meeting

also helped the parties involved to establish rapport for effective communication and

interaction and to obtain documents to be reviewed.

(ii) Literature review. Available relevant reports and documents were reviewed to establish

the status of youth engagement in agribusiness based on existing initiatives promoting this

at the international, sub-region, national and local levels. A list of documents reviewed is

highlighted in the reference section;

(iii) Preparation of tools and materials. Semi-structured questionnaires, focus group

discussion and key informant checklists were developed and used for generation of data

based on the study objectives outlined in section 1.3. These tools were pre-tested among at

least 5 respondents before being administered;

(iv) Sampling methods and sample size

Sampling methods used

Stratified sampling was applied to select youth to be interviewed based on region/districts,

gender and age. This is because each region has different history, culture and context in

terms of challenges and opportunities. The respondents involved in the study were selected

purposively based on key considerations that they are youth engaged in agri-business

activities. Furthermore, the key informants were selected purposively with consideration

that they appeared to be more knowledgeable about youth engagements in agribusiness.

Each focus group discussion involved at least 15 respondents and in total 20 focus group

discussions were conducted. The purpose of the focus group discussions was to build

consensus and validation of data obtained from key issues from the semi-structured

interviews. Furthermore, discussions were conducted involving 20 key informants to

generate more detailed information.

Sample size determination

The sample size was determined using the the formula for estimating the sample size and a

table for determining the sample size based on confidence level needed from a given

population as provided by Krejcie and Morgan (1970). Using youth population statistics of

6.5 million youth under the age bracket of 18-30 (UBOS 2010), the equation generated 384

as the sample size for the study.

(v) Administration of the tools. The key informant interviews and focus group discussions

were administered in all regions of Uganda to get a better representation of youth in the

whole country. Respondents were sampled from urban, rural, and peri-urban areas of

Uganda.

(vi) Data analysis, content analysis and synthesis. Data obtained from literature review,

focus group discussions and key informant interviews was synthesized through content

analysis. The data collected using semi-structured questionnaires were analyzed using SPSS

16 to generate percentages for various variables;

(vii) All the information and data gathered were compiled into a zero draft report which was

presented to Agriprofocus coordination team for review. The comments received were

addressed and an advanced draft report produced and presented in a stakeholder’s meeting

for further consultation and validation;

(viii) Documentation and reporting. This involved compilation of the analyzed data and

feedback from the validation workshop into a final report which was submitted to Agri-

ProFucus Uganda.

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3.0 Results from the study

3.1 Sample size characterization

Sex of the respondents

Majority of the respondents interviewed (66%) were males and 34% were females. They

all belonged to youth/farmers associations (Figure 1).

34%

66%

Male

Femele

Figure 1. Youth interviewed based on gender (N=384).

Age bracket of the respondents

Majority of the respondents (35%) were in the age bracket of 28-34, 33% of the

respondents were in the age bracket of 23-37, twenty percent (20%) of the respondents

were in the age bracket of 18-22 years and lastly 12% were in the age bracket of 35 and

above (Figure 2).

7

0 10 20 30 40

18 and below

18-22

23-27

28-34

35 and above

Percentage

Figure 2. Age bracket of the respondents (N=384).

Youth interviewed per region

As highlighted in Figure 3: 40 (i.e. 26 males and 14 females) of the respondents were from

Zombo district (West Nile); 40 (i.e. 30 males and 10 females) from Amolatar district

(Northern Uganda ); 40 (i.e. 28 males and 12 females) from Luwero district and 28 (i.e. 18

males and 10 females) from Kampala district (Central Uganda); 40 (i.e. 29 males and 11

females) from Bulisa and 36 (i.e. 21 males and 15 females) from Masindi (Western

Uganda); and 40 (i.e. 15 males and 25 females) from Soroti district, 40 (i.e. 20 males and

20 females) from Kaberamaido district, 40 (i.e. 22 males and 18 females) from Kibuku

district and 40 (i.e. 33 males and 7 females) from Katakwi district (Eastern Uganda). Sixty

68 respondents were from the urban areas.

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Figure 3. Number of youth interviewed per region (N=384).

3.2 Overview of existing youth definitions

Youth can be defined from two viewpoints: the age based and sociological. Taking into

consideration the age based viewpoint, The National Youth Policy (2001) defines youth, ‘as

all young persons; female and male aged 12 to 30 years.

The African Youth Charter (2006) defines youth as, ‘every person between the ages of 15

and 35 years.’ The World Bank and the UN define, ‘youth as those falling in the age bracket

of 15-25 and 15-24,’ respectively while the Commonwealth defines youth by age as those

between the ages of 15-29. On the other hand the Danish Youth Council looks at youth as

the category between the ages of 15-34 (Larok et al. 2010).

The International Labor Organization defines the youth as the 15 to 24 age group (ILO

2006). Likewise, the United Nations (1985), for statistical purposes, defines youth as those

persons between the ages of 15 and 24 years.

All the above definitions are based on age and the notable difference between the

definitions is the age bracket considered for youth. Information gained through interviews

with key informants indicated that the age bracket of 15-35 years is a productive age during

which most youth are very energetic and if equipped with the desired requisite knowledge

and skills they would make tremendous contribution to agri-business in Uganda and yet

obtain worthwhile benefits from the same. From the foregoing, it is clear that there is no

consensus on the age bracket for the youth and this could present challenge in as far as

development of programs targeting the youth are concerned.

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From the sociological viewpoint, the youth is defined as the transition stage from childhood

to adulthood (neither childhood nor adulthood but rather somewhere in between), in which

case the age at which this transition begins will vary greatly between societies and indeed

within the same society.

3.3. Categorization of youth into different groups with clear distinctive features

According to the findings, the major distinguishing feature for the youth was age. Data

generated through interviews with the youth and key informants indicated that there is no

agreement on the years at which the youth age begins and ends. The minimum age at

which respondents thought people started to be described as youth was 12 and the

maximum age at which people stopped being described as youth was 35. Figure 4 gives the

different youth age categories from the perspective of the youth interviewed for this study.

0% 20% 40% 60% 80%

15-25 years

12-25 years

18-30 years

12-35 years

18-35 years

Percentage

Figure 4. Categorization of youth according to age bracket (N=384).

The majority of respondents (65%) indicated that the minimum age at which people started

to be described as youth was 18 and the maximum age at which people stopped being

described as youth was 35.Eighteen (18%) of the respondents indicated that the minimum

age at which people started to be described as youth was 18 and the maximum age at

which people stopped being described as youth was 30 years. This is in agreement with the

youth definition by the National Youth Policy, (2001).

However, the youth were also categorized based on level of education where it was

indicated that majority of students from form 4 to university (first degree) are youth,

marital status (majority of those not yet married are youth) and amount of physical energy

possessed (youth are quite active with boundless energy as opposed to adults).

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4.0 Issues and challenges facing youth in agri-business

4.1 Why youth shun agri-business

Based on reports by Oluwaseum (2014), Action Alert (2013) and Agasha (2014)2, the major

reasons why youth in Uganda shun agri-business are as follows:

• Ignorance and poor attitude about agribusiness by the youth;

• Agriculture being a high risk venture considering the current climate variability

impacts;

• Complete lack of or limited access to resources (such as land, credit facilities,

knowledge and skills) for investments in agribusiness;

• Limited access by the youth to supportive mechanisms (such as training/mentoring

and information about markets) which advance agricultural productivity;

• Weak investment in agriculture particularly value addition through agro-processing in

which many youth would get employed;

• Availability of few individuals who are successfully running agricultural enterprises

and business (such as St. Jude Family Projects, Katende Harambe, Shatwa Mixed

Farm, Farming Consult Uganda) and who are willing to mentor youth to follow in

their footsteps;

• The long-term nature for returns on investment from agricultural enterprises and yet

most youth prefer quick returns. Thus, most youth take up other careers associated

with quick returns such as transport (operating taxis and boda-boda riding).

4.2 Youth perceptions of why they shun agri-business

Despite the perception that youth are not interested in agriculture (Action Alert 2013;

Agasha 2014; and Oluwaseum 2014), many youth interviewed from the rural areas in some

districts such as Bulisa and Luwero indicated that they were interested and involved in

agriculture (albeit ) on a small scale and on part-time basis (only busy during the rainy

season). This is in agreement with reports by the International Youth Foundation (2011)

Action Aid Uganda (2012) and Ahaibwe et al. (2013). According to Action Aid Uganda,

Development Research and Training and Uganda National Non-Governmental Organizations

Forum (2012) and as presented in Table 4 about 79% of youth in rural areas were involved

in agribusiness.

Table 4 Involvement of youth in Agriculture

Agriculture kind

Involvement

in Agriculture

Crop Growing Animal

Grazing

Fishin

g

Other

s

Total

% % % %

Yes 69.4 6.0 2.3 1.6 79.3

Source: Action Aid Uganda, Development Research and Training and Uganda

National Non-Governmental Organizations Forum (2012).

However, it is the majority of youth in urban centers in the study areas that are not

engaged in farming. This is because they have other livelihood options such as petty

trading, operating commercial cycles for transport, casual labor. Respondents and key

informants indicated that the youth shun agribusiness due to the following reasons which

are generally similar to those earlier raised by Action Alert (2013); Agasha (2014); and

Oluwaseum (2014):

2 Agasha posed a question on Agriprofucus website on why youth are not engaged in farming and different people provided

different answers.

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• Farming takes longer time to get results. Youth are dynamic and sometimes

impatient and want to make and spend their money quickly yet some agricultural

enterprises take long for one to realize benefits and recoup the money back;

• Lack skills and knowledge. The extension system in Uganda has nearly collapsed and

to make matters worse the private service providers lack practical skills and often

provide theoretical and inapplicable information and knowledge. As a result, the

youth have continued practicing traditional methods of farming;

• Risky business. Farming/agribusiness is looked at as risky business due to

unpredictable weather patterns (climate change) and fluctuating prices;

• Negative image (perception) of agriculture. In the minds of the youth, a farmer is

someone like their parents, doing dirt and labor intensive work using rudimentary

tools (basic equipment) and methods and getting little to show for it. Therefore, the

image of poor farmer with torn clothes puts off many young people and makes them

have second thoughts about farming and agribusiness ;

• Negative attitudes of youth towards agriculture. Agriculture does not appeal to the

youth and see it as dirty (prefer being smart) and especially educated girls and in

urban areas cannot imagine themselves touching soil with their beautiful and long

nails. They even feel that gloves and gumboots will make their nails dirty and

destroy them ;

• Existence of few youthful role model farmers. There is a limited number of youth who

have made it through agribusiness .This does not inspire other youth to join

agribusiness ;

• Laziness. Some youth are lazy yet agriculture is labor intensive (back breaking hand

–hoe tilling). They are used to free things and do not have many responsibilities;

• Education and societal expectations. The education system for Uganda brings out

products that are inclined towards formal employment and youth view formal jobs in

the formal wage sector as the best alternative. Some practical courses such as

agriculture and entrepreneurship are offered at secondary level. Although, these

courses are meant to impart practical skills, they often emphasize theory over

practice. This has been worsened by societal expectations where one is expected to

complete school find a well-paying job and generally lead good life;

• Little encouragement from parents. Parents always advise their children to go to

school study hard, get good grades and get a good job. Very few if any rich parents

advise the youth to consider agriculture as an alternative career;

• Government low investment in agriculture. Government continues to invest little in

agriculture. All African government under the Maputo Declaration committed

themselves to invest at least 10 % of their total annual budgets into agriculture but

the government of Uganda is yet to make this a reality;

• Limited access to capital. The youth have limited chances of access to credit because

financial institutions require collateral especially land which the youth do not own ;

• Youth perception that agriculture in not profitable. Youth perceive agriculture not be

profitable and unable to support their desired lifestyles compared to white collar

jobs. They think agriculture would not afford them to enjoy the pleasures of owning

a beautiful home, fast cars, the latest gadgets and mobile phones like what their

colleagues in white collar jobs have access to.

A ranking of the above youth perceptions of why they shun agribusiness was done and

percentages calculated and the findings are presented in Figure 5. These issues should be

addressed so that more youth are motivated and supported to engage in agri-business. This

would result in greater benefits inform of improved youth livelihood and national

development.

12

4.3. Ranking of youth perceptions of why they shun agribusiness

Majority (26%) of the respondents indicated that the youth were not involved in agriculture

because agriculture takes long to get results, 25% indicated that youth were not involved in

agriculture due to limited access to capital and 10% indicated that youth were not involved

in agriculture because of the negative image portrayed by farmers (Figure 5).

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Farming takes longer to get results

Inadequate skills & knowledge in agri-business

Risky business

Negative image portrayed by farmers

Negative attitude by youth towards agriculture

Lack of role models in agriculture

Education and society expectations

Little encoragement of youth by parents to engage in agri-business

Limited access to capital

Youth consider agriculture unprofitable

Shortage of arable land

Others

Percentage

Figure 5. Ranking of reasons why youth are not engaged in agribusiness +

(N=384).

4.4. Gender dimension of youth perceptions of why they shun agriculture

These perceptions cut across male and female youth. However, the female youth are more

affected by scarcity of arable land because of cultural norms and gender stereotypes. This is

in agreement with earlier reports by Nanna (2009). Additionally, female youth have other

competing demands (household chores) such as fetching water and firewood and cooking of

meals and thus have little time left to devote to agribusiness.

5.0 Strategies engaging youth in agricultural value chains at the national level

In Table 5, the key programs and or projects and associated strategies engaging youth in

agricultural value chains at the national level are presented. Whereas several youth have

engaged in and benefited from these initiatives, it is difficult to establish the impact of these

initiatives on youth livelihood and the actual number of youth who have benefited. This is

because each program and or project uses their own monitoring and evaluation framework

and secondly there are no studies conducted particularly focusing on impacts of these

initiatives on youth livelihood with synthesized information about the actual number of

youth who have engaged and benefited.

13

Table 5. Key programs/project strategies engaging youth in agricultural value

chains at the national level.

Key Program/projects/mentoring Organization Key activities engaging youth in agricultural

value chains

National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADs)

Program implemented country-wide in all 112

districts of Uganda. Initial implementation of the

program was in 2001. The program aims at

increasing incomes through increased adaption of

profitable agricultural enterprises and improved

technology practices, agricultural productivity and

marketed output. The institutional structure for

the program is currently being re-structured by

Government for better service delivery.

-Training about modern agricultural

production techniques and practices;

-Promoting farmers access to agricultural

inputs;

-Facilitating farmer’s access to market

information.

Northern Uganda Social Action Fund Project

(NUSAF) II designed to fund small-scale rural

sub-projects in over 40 districts in Northern

Uganda. It has been implemented since 2009 and

will be completed by 2015.

-Supporting community-driven initiatives

that improve the accessibility to and the

delivery of small-scale socio-economic

services and enhancing the capacity of

communities and other stakeholders

involved in the process.

Peace, Recovery and Development Plan (PRDP

2007) for Northern Uganda implemented in 2007-

2010. It aimed at stabilization for regaining and

consolidation of peace and lay foundations for

recovery and development in Northern Uganda.

-Enhancement of knowledge and skills for

agricultural production and marketing

through training farmers;

Supported access to agricultural inputs to

boost productivity

Several projects by Youth based Non-

governmental organizations and Non-

governmental organizations working on

sustainable agriculture and food security

implemented at national level and country-wide.

-Training about modern agricultural

production techniques and practices;

-Promoting farmers access to agricultural

inputs;

-Policy, lobbying and advocacy campaigns

on food security and food rights;

-Mentoring youth in management of

agricultural value chains.

Youth Livelihood Program/Fund targeted for

implementation country-wide in 112 districts for a

period of 5 years since 2013.

-Provides financial resources (loans) for

supporting youth to invest in income

generating activities for their employment

and livelihood improvement.

5.1 Key informant responses about what should be done to promote youth

engagement in agricultural value chains

The respondents and key informants interacted with during the focus group discussions and

interactive interviews respectively, cited possible actions which can be implemented to

promote youth participation in agri-business. These were synthesized into 5 major

categories presented as follows:

a) Information and knowledge management

• Providing the youth with more information on farming/agribusiness and associated

policies and programs;

• Supporting the youth to apply this information in their agri-businesses;

14

• Facilitate youth participation in networking activities for further information exchange

and learning among peers;

• Demonstrating to the youth that even agriculture can present opportunities for a

better livelihood in the future;

• Encourage partnerships with the private sector for technical advice and market

linkages.

b) Access to agricultural inputs (such as improved seeds, fertilizers, livestock

breeds) by youth farmers

• Facilitate youth access to improved technologies and practices;

• Extending affordable and youth friendly financial services. Small scale farmers do not

like to go to formal banks for credit;

• Provision of farming implements like tractors and setting aside land for youth

activities.

c) Training and capacity building

• Training programs for the youth before they start agriculture as a businesses;

• Organizing exposure learning visits as part of the training for the youth especially

those who have demonstrated interest and success as a motivation for youth

engagement in agribusiness;

• Regular technical backstopping and farm visits for participating youth;

• Using role models who have successful agri-businesses to share their experiences to

the youth about how they have made it. These could be fellow youth so that they

can easily inspire other youth;

• Organizing Agri-business awards for proven and successful youth farmers at different

levels.

d) Research and development

• Conducting regular agriculture labor market surveys to determine the available

jobs in agriculture;

• Determining the proportion of youth actively participating and benefiting from

agribusiness activities implemented at several levels in the country;

• Conducting impact assessment of the implementation of several policies, programs

and projects on youth livelihoods and well-being.

e) Supporting more investment in agro-processing and agro-industries

• Increased focus on value addition and agro-processing by the Government, Non-

governmental organizations, Private sector with financial and technical assistance

from Development partners;

• Supporting investments in smart agriculture such as agri-tourism established side-

by-side the agricultural enterprises and other eco-logical tourists attractions;

• Establishment of rural based cottage industries(incubation centers ) with basic

infrastructure( shared facilities) ;

• Guarantee market for the produce for the youth through contract farming.

f) Deepening agricultural insurance against risks in agricultural investments

• Promoting access to agriculture insurance schemes by youth farmers for cover

against climate variability induced disasters and risks;

• More awareness of youth farmers about risks in agri-business and the importance of

insurance covers.

h) Making agriculture cool to advance youth engagement in agri-business

• Use more targeted TV and radio programs encouraging youth agri-business;

15

• Organizing the agro-forums between stakeholders and the youth for information

dissemination and exchange;

• Development and implementation of information, communication and technology

applications and social media platform for information/knowledge dissemination

targeting youth in agri-business;

• Enhancing and promoting agro-tourism enterprises by linking agriculture & tourism;

• Getting celebrities as agriculture ambassadors;

• Organizing school farm camps/school gardens visits ;

• Organizing club theme nights for the farmers;

• Establishing Shamba shape up shows in Uganda i.e. a way of demonstrating to youth

farmers on how to improve their activities.

5.2. Broader strategic actions towards long-term engagements and benefits for

youth in agri-business

However, effective implementation of the above suggested actions by the youth

respondents and key informants requires broader strategic actions targeting long-term

engagements to deliver benefits to youth in agri-business. They include the following:

a) Targeted awareness for key stakeholders aiming at changing their mindset for

supporting youth agri-business;

b) Productive youth engagement in agri-business through facilitating youth platforms at

international, sub-regional, national and local levels;

c) Supporting youth for gainful participation in planning, policy formulation and

implementation at the national and local levels;

d) Lobbying and advocacy to advance engagement of youth in agri-business value

chains in the implementation of several agricultural development programs at

different levels;

e) Targeted capacity building for agri-business skills enhancement of different youth

categories and gender based on their interest and preferences.

5.3 Youth perceptions of sub-sectors which they are interested to engage in

As indicated in Figure 6, majority of the youth (41%) are interested in sub-sectors that are

of shorter nature and bring in returns quickly. Examples cited included horticultural crops

such as vegetables, tomatoes and onions. Thirty four (34%) of the youth interviewed

indicated that they were interested in subsectors that have ready market. Examples

highlighted included: Maize, Groundnuts, Goats and Piggery. Twelve percent (12%)

indicated that they were interested in subsectors that bring in daily income. Example given

included poultry and dairy. Seven percent (7%) of the youth interviewed indicated that they

were interested in sub-sectors that are not labor intensive. Examples included: agro-tourism

and beekeeping. Lastly, 5% of the youth interviewed indicated that they were interested in

sub-sectors that ensure food security and examples included cassava. Males were more

interested in sub-sectors of short-term nature and high value whereas females were more

interested in subsectors that improve food security and are low labor intensive.

However, after thorough probing, the findings indicated that the youth that singled out sub-

sectors that ensure food security were either married or were family heads (had no parents

and yet had dependents). These findings are in agreement with Actionaid (2012) report

findings indicating that youth in Kampala involved in agriculture have taken up short-term

ventures like horticulture, crop, poultry, piggery and livestock farming as well as trading.

16

Figure 6. Youth perceptions of sub-sectors which they are interested to engage in

(=384).

5.4 .Youth perceptions of segments along the value chain which they are

interested to engage in

Currently the youth who are into agri-business are mainly engaged in production (IYF

2011). However, when asked the question of which segment of the value chain they would

be mostly interested in, they indicated: marketing, primary production, processing/value

addition and inputs supply in that order. However, there are other value chain segments

such as transportation of agricultural and storage of produce through warehousing, offering

professional services and skills which the respondents never identified as being interested in

but yet they could potentially get engaged in.

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

Valua addition & processing

Marketing

Input supply

Primary production

Percentage

Figure 7. Youth perceptions of their interests along the agricultural value chains

(N=384).

17

6.0 Key International, Sub-regional and National levels initiatives for advancing

youth engagement in agribusiness

6.1 International level

The World Program of Action for Youth (WPAY)

According to United Nation (2000), this program of action was adopted by the General

Assembly of the United Nations in 1995. It provides a policy framework and practical

guidelines for national action and international support to improve the situation of young

people around the world and a blueprint for youth policies. This program provides forums at

the international levels for engagement on several issues affecting youth from different

parts of the world including the high rate of unemployment, which can be addressed

through youth engagement in agri-business among others.

Youth and the United Nations Global Alliance

The secretariat of this initiative is hosted at the Food and Agriculture Organization. It aims

at facilitating the collaboration between UN agencies and other organizations working with

children and young people (such as schools, youth and civil society groups, NGOs and

government institutions). The objective is to create a gateway to facilitate the engagement

of young people in activities of key environmental and social concern at the local and

international level. It can be targeted as an entry point for advancing advocacy for youth

engagement in agribusiness.

6.2 Sub-region level

Africa Youth Charter (AYC) 2006

This is a political and legal document which provides a strategic framework for youth

empowerment at the African continental, regional and national levels for member states. It

came into force in 2006 during the 7th ordinary session of the African Union Head of States

and Governments meeting in Banjul, Gambia. Overall, the charter aims at strengthening,

reinforcing and consolidating the efforts for empowering young people through meaningful

youth participation and equal partnership in driving Africa’s development agenda. Uganda

ratified the charter in 2008.

Youth Decade Plan of Action (2009)

This was declared by the African Union Assembly in January, 2009, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It

is the framework for multi-sectorial and multidimensional engagement of all stakeholders

towards the achievement of the goals and objectives of the African Youth Charter for the

decade 2009-2018. The key objectives of the Youth Decade Plan of Action are as follows: To

serve as a road map on the accelerated implementation of African Youth Charter (AYC);

Mainstreaming and operationalizing the implementation of the AYC with a youth perspective

in financing and monitoring African development goals and indicators; and establishment of

a benchmark of standards, indicative criteria's and accountability in design, implementing

and monitoring of youth development policies, program and activities in Africa. Actually, one

of the strategies of the Youth Decade Action Plan focuses on consolidated investment

targeting youth socio-economic empowerment.

African Youth Initiative on Climate Change (AYICC)

Based on highlights by Valle (2012) this is a network of African youth organizations and

individuals working on climate change and sustainable development. It was founded in 2006

at the COP 12 – UNFCCC in Nairobi, the movement’s goal is to ensure participation of

African Youth in Climate Change debates, identify and seek support for youth driven climate

18

change solutions and increase the youth awareness on Climate Change. This initiative

currently has national chapters in over 20 African countries and focal points in 35 countries.

The members of the AYICC address the bigger picture of climate change issues linking them

with key development challenges, like poverty alleviation, agriculture, health, education,

economic growth, urbanization and migrations, governance among others. This initiative is a

key entry point for advocating for youth engagement in agriculture considering that climate

change induced disasters are a major risk to agriculture production. Thus, even the youth

who are mobilized to engage in agri-business will be highly affected by climate change

impacts and their capacities to adapt and mitigate must be strengthened.

Overall, much as there are sub-regional, regional and international policies supporting youth

development as highlighted in sub-Sections 6.1 and 6.2, these policies do not strongly focus

on promoting and supporting youth engagement in agri-business. Additionally, they have

not yet been effectively translated into national policies, programs and actions for

implementation at the local and community level to further benefit youth engagements in

agri-business. Therefore, more lobbying and advocacy through policy dialogue is necessary

to influence policy discourse for development programs and initiatives supporting youth in

agri-business at the sub-regional, regional and international levels. Such initiatives would

also provide the required technical backstopping and cooperation for integration of sub-

regional, regional and international policy commitments into implementable actions to

promote youth engagement in agri-business at the national level.

6.3 National level

National Youth Policy, (2001)

In 2001, the Government of Uganda approved the National Youth Policy. The Policy seeks to

guide, harmonize, complement, enhance and promote the distinctive yet complementary

actions and roles of all the stakeholders at all levels in youth development to enhance

effectiveness of all efforts (National Youth Policy 2001). It provides a framework for

development of a National Action Plan for the Youth that spells out the strategic areas for

actions, target groups and implementation modalities.

The policy’s mission is, ‘Youth empowerment,’ were as its goal is, ‘to provide an appropriate

framework for enabling youth to develop social, economic, cultural and political skills so as

to enhance their participation in the overall development process and improve their quality

of life.’ Furthermore, the policy clearly identifies employment and enterprise development as

a priority strategy for youth development, particularly providing youth farmers with market

information and agricultural extension services.

However, it is more than 10 years since the National Youth Policy, (2001) was approved.

Therefore, the review for the policy is long overdue to address emerging issues in respect to

youth engagement in agri-business.

Ministry of Gender, Labor and Social Development

This is the overarching national institution responsible for youth affairs and is charged to

take lead in the implementation of the youth policy while effectively coordinating youth

engagement initiatives by other stakeholders at all levels.

National Youth Councils

These are established at the village, parish, sub-county, district and national levels as

provided for in the National Council Statute, (1993). They are expected to play a

19

fundamental role in the implementation of the National Youth Policy, (2001) and are

charged with the following among others:

--Youth mobilization, sensitization and organization of youth into unified bodies for

engagement in political, economic and socio-cultural activities;

--Advocacy and lobbying to address youth concerns;

--Liaison with development organizations to ensure that youth gain access to resources,

services and programs;

-- Inspire and promote in the youth the spirit of unity, patriotism and voluntarism; and

--Act as a voice and bridge to ensure that Government and other decision/policy makers are

kept informed of the views and aspiration of the youth.

Non-Governmental Organizations engaging youth

According to Nanna, (2009), there are 3000 Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and

Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) working towards addressing several issues

affecting youth in Uganda. The issues include: HIV/AIDs and reproductive health;

Education- with particular focus on the Universal primary Education; Poverty and

Unemployment; Peace and Conflict resolution; Governance and anti-corruption; and Human

and child rights (Uganda Youth Council cited in Nanna 2009). However, not very many

NGOs and CBOs are primarily focused on advancing youth engagement in agri-business for

their improved livelihoods and wellbeing. The study by Nanna (2009) further articulated that

civil society youth engagements are limited by a number of challenges such as:

a) Inadequate institutional funding;

b) Weak capacity particularly for organizational, planning, monitoring and evaluation

skills;

c) Social-cultural barriers – for instance in cases were traditionally authoritative,

patriarchal and hierarchical values prevented youth voices from being considered in

decision making. In such cases especially in the rural areas, youth participation is

symbolic;

d) Politicization of youth organizations – this becomes a challenge when the

organization becomes a youth wing for political parties. In such cases, the youth

leaders are compromised that they end up promoting the interests of the party at

the cost of their interests as youth;

e) Weak capacity for effective participation – this is particularly in respect to the

knowledge/ skills for appropriate decision making in respect to the issues engaged

upon and the forums. Thus, most youth are inadequately empowered to engage in

decision making processes or forums at local and national levels, which are largely

dominated by adults;

f) The low young women participation is partly because they are considered as youth

by the society after marriage or pregnancy. Secondly, majority of women

organizations are often dominated by elder women leaving little space for young

women. Furthermore, young women usually have low education levels but also the

associated cultural and religious barriers and their heavy domestic workload limit

their participation.

As highlighted in Section 6.3, there exists the National Youth Policy, (2001) and associated

frontline institutional framework for its implementation at the national, local and village

levels. Whereas the policy clearly identifies employment and enterprise development as a

priority strategy for youth development, the policy also has several other strategies

targeting other equally important youth livelihood aspects such as education, health and

human rights. Subsequently, the implementation of the employment and enterprise

development strategy competes for resources allocation with other strategies. Therefore,

effective implementation of this strategy to further promote youth engagement and benefit

20

in agri-business requires targeted policy dialogue for awareness creation about the merits of

supporting youth participation in agri-business.

7.0 Key stakeholders engaging youth in agri-businesses in Uganda

The key stakeholders engaging youth in agri-business in Uganda are presented in Table 6. It

also suggests the differentiated roles which these stakeholders should spearhead to

promote and support youth engagement in agri-business in Uganda. Furthermore in annex

1, examples of some of these key stakeholder’s initiatives are enlisted.

Table 6. Major stakeholders engaging youth in agri-business in Uganda

Key stakeholder Suggested role for advancing youth engagement agri-business

Enabling ministries and departments

Ministry of Gender,

Labor, and Social

Development

-Develop and implement strategies to promote and support youth

engagement in agri-business.

Ministry of Finance,

Planning and Economic

Development

-Providing adequate funding for productive engagement of youth in

agri-business.

Ministry of Agriculture,

Animal industries and

Fisheries

-Develop and implement strategies to promote and support youth

engagement in agri-business.

Ministry of Trade and

Industry

-Develop and implement strategies to promote and support youth

engagement in agri-business and agro-based cottage industries.

Ministry of Lands,

Housing and Urban

Planning

-Develop and implement strategies to promote and support youth

ownership and access to land resources for investment in agri-

business.

Political leaders at local

and national levels

-Mobilizing youth engagement and participation in agribusiness;

-Making appropriate decisions for promoting and supporting youth

engagement in agri-business.

Kampala City Council

Authority, Local

governments and Urban

Authorities

-Implement strategies to promote and support youth engagement

in agri-business.

International and inter-

governmental

organizations

-Provide technical support and backstopping for advancing youth

engagement in agri-business;

-Provide funding support for action research through piloting

models for youth engagement in agri-business.

Youth councils and

organizations

-Mobilizing youth engagement and participation in agribusiness;

-Spearhead lobbying and advocacy initiatives and dialogue for

support of youth engagement in agri-business.

Non-governmental

organizations

-Undertake lobbying and advocacy for productive and sustainable

engagement of youth in agri-business;

-Enhancement of youth skills for effective engagement in

agribusiness through training, coaching mentoring and internship;

-Creating more awareness with facts about the potential of agri-

business to livelihood and associated benefits when more youth are

actively involved.

Schools -Educate youth about the importance of agriculture and several

agricultural production skills through implementation of the

education curriculum and activities of School Agricultural Clubs;

Religious Institutions -Mobilizing youth engagement and participation in agri-business;

-Establishing programs and projects for supporting youth

21

engagement in agri-business enterprises.

Cultural Institutions -Mobilizing youth engagement and participation in agri-business;

-Establishing programs and projects for supporting youth

engagement in agri-business enterprises.

Private sector -Enhancement of youth skills for effective engagement in agri-

business through training, mentoring and internship;

-Improving access to agricultural inputs and credit facilities by

youth for investment in agri-business;

Provide employment for youth through establishing agro-based

industries and cottage industries and agri-business enterprises for

selected agricultural value chains.

Research and

Development

Institutions

-Encouraging and supporting youth to participate in agricultural

research and development so that in the long-term they would

replace the aging research and development personnel.

Media (New Vision, The

Daily Monitor, Bukedde

TV, NTV and Radio)

-Documentation and dissemination of best practices in agri-

business;

-Mobilizing youth to invest in agri-business;

-Creating awareness about policies and programs with influence on

agri-business

Family farms -Training youth to engage in agri-business activities through

mentoring and couching;

-Encouraging and supporting youth to invest in agri-business;

7.1 An overview of national policies that have a direct influence on youth

participation in Agri-business

The key national policies which have direct influence on youth involvement and participation

in agri-business are discussed in Table 7. Whereas these several policies and associated

programs are being implemented, low proportion of youth is aware about them and

consequently not many youth would participate and benefit. For instance, reports by Action

Aid Uganda, Development Research and Training and Uganda National Non-Governmental

Organizations Forum (2012) indicated that only 14% of the youth are aware of the National

Youth Policy (2001). It is therefore, necessary to create more targeted awareness about

these policies and programs at all levels to promote effective youth participation in their

implementation.

Table 7. Key national policies and programs with direct influence on youth

engagement in agri-business in Uganda

Key

policy/program

Policy/program objectives Key observation in respect

to engagement of youth in

agri-business

Nation Youth

Policy for

Uganda

(2001).

The policy provides a framework for

development of a National Action Plan for

the Youth, which spells out the strategic

areas for actions, target groups and

implementation modalities.

It identifies employment

and enterprise

development as a priority

strategy for youth

development, particularly

providing youth farmers

with market information

and agricultural extension

services. However, policy

implementation should be

strengthened to ensure

that youth benefit through

22

engagement and

investment in

agribusiness.

National

Agricultural

Policy for

Uganda,

(2011).

The policy aims at transforming subsistence

farming into sustainable commercial

agriculture. It provides guidance to all

actors in the agricultural sector to make

investments that will increase agricultural

incomes, reduce poverty, improved

household food and nutrition security, create

employment and stimulate overall economic

development.

The policy recognizes that

involvement and

participation of youth is

necessary in order to

achieve the policy goal,

objectives and targets.

However, strategies for

promoting and supporting

productive youth

engagement in agri-

business should be

developed and

implemented.

National Land

Policy for

Uganda,

(2013).

The National Land Policy for Uganda

envisions a transformed Ugandan Society

through optimal use and management of

land resources for a prosperous and

industrialized economy with a developed

services sector. The policy recognizes land

rights of women and children. Thus, women

are generally not able to own or inherit land

due to restrictive practices under customary

land tenure and cannot afford to buy land

rights in the market. Therefore, women,

especially young women have limited access

and ownership to land for investment in

farming. The policy further clearly stipulates

strategies for review and regulation of

customary law and practices for access to

and ownership of land.

- Effective implementation

of strategies for review

and regulation of

customary law and

practices for access to and

ownership of land so that

young women can own

and access land for

investment in agri-

business.

National

Industrial

Policy for

Uganda,

(2008).

The policy envisions to, ‘build the industrial

sector into a modern, competitive and

dynamic sector fully integrated into the

domestic, regional and global economies.’

The policy recognizes the role of gender in

industrial development. In this respect,

among its policies is prioritization of gender

balanced and sensitive industrial

transformation. Thus, one of the strategies

to this is promotion and development of

vocational education for disadvantaged

sections of society such as women and

people with disabilities, including through

affirmative action to increase the percentage

of such groups in technical and vocational

institutions as well as other industrial related

discipline. This presents an entry point for

youth to tap into opportunities for skills and

knowledge enhancement in agro-processing

and agri-business.

- Effective implementation

of this strategy to ensure

that youth are benefiting

to further their

engagement in agro-

processing and agri-

business.

23

National

Cooperative

Development

Policy for

Uganda,

(2011).

The policy envisions a, ‘self-driven, vibrant,

prosperous and gender responsive co-

operative movement.’ The policy identifies

several policy actions through which youth

cooperatives based on agri-business can

benefit. These include: Diversification of co-

operative enterprises; and Strengthening

the co-operative movement. However, these

actions are not restricted to only youth

farmers. Therefore, the youth agro-based

cooperatives would be required to

proactively position themselves to

participate and benefit from implementation

of these policy actions.

-Strategies for promoting

and supporting

cooperatives for youth

farmers for effective

delivery of services to

their members should be

developed and

implemented.

National Trade

Policy for

Uganda,

(2007).

The vision of the National Trade Policy for

Uganda is, ‘to transform Uganda into a

dynamic and competitive economy in which

the trade sector stimulates the productive

sectors; and to trade the country out of

poverty, into wealth and prosperity.’ The

policy earmarked the following policy actions

which youth involved in agri-business can

benefit from:

--Encourage and foster collective action

through, inter alia, the development and

strengthening as well as diversification of

cooperatives;

--Implement the Marketing and Agro-

Processing Strategy (MAPS) of the Plan for

Modernization of Agriculture;

--Encourage bulk marketing and adherence

to commodity standards through; inter alia,

Cooperative Societies and Area Marketing

Cooperative Enterprises and Farmers’

Groups.

However, these actions are not restricted to

only youth farmers. Therefore, the youth

agro-based cooperatives would be required

to proactively position themselves to

participate and benefit from implementation

of these policy actions.

-Strategies for promoting

and supporting youth

farmers’ effective

participation and benefit

from the implementation

of these policy actions

should be developed and

implemented.

Uganda

Climate

Change Policy,

(2013)

The goal of the policy is, ‘to ensure

harmonized and coordinated action towards

a climate resilient and sustainable low

carbon development path for Uganda,’ The

overall objective of the policy is, ‘to ensure

that all stakeholders with a role to play in

the development of Uganda address climate

change impacts and their causes through

appropriate measures while promoting

sustainable development.’

The policy prioritizes climate change

-Strategies for promoting

and supporting youth

farmers’ effective

participation and benefit

from the implementation

of these policy strategies

should be developed and

implemented.

24

adaption and mitigation in the Agriculture

and Livestock sub-sectors. This will be

achieved through implementation of the

following strategies as stipulated in the

policy:

-Promoting climate change adaptation

strategies that enhance resilient, productive

and sustainable agricultural systems;

-Promoting value addition and improve food

storage and management systems in order

to ensure food security at all times, as a

factor of resilience.

Agricultural

Sector

Development

Strategy and

Investment

Plan (DSIP),

(2010).

This is the strategic and development plan

for the Agricultural sector in Uganda. Its

overall development objectives are: (i) Rural

incomes and livelihoods increased; and (ii)

Household food and nutrition security

improved. It earmarks production &

productivity and Markets and value addition

as key programs among others. The plan

recognizes the high number of youth who

are unemployed who can get gainful

employment in agriculture. It also articulates

the issues limiting youth engagement and

investment in agriculture. However, the plan

does not clearly indicate the strategies for

engaging youth in agri-business.

-Strategies for promoting

and supporting youth

engagement in agri-

business should be

developed and

implemented in the DSIP

program.

Community

Driven

Development

(CDD)

Program,

Ministry of

Local

Government

2014.

The goal of the CDD program is to develop

mechanisms for supporting community level

activities that improve governance and

investment. Particularly, it aims at

strengthening the linkage between

communities and local governments by

empowering them to champion their own

development and demand for local service

delivery. Thus, it provides small grants for

small-scale community-led projects

addressing development concerns of

community based groups and association. It

is implemented by Local Governments

through coordination by the Local

Government Community Development

Office. The project is implemented country-

wide in all the 112 districts.

-Strategies for promoting

and supporting youth

engagement in agri-

business should be

developed and

implemented in the CDD

program.

Youth

Livelihood

Program/Fund.

The implementation of the program fund is

coordinated by the Ministry of Gender,

Labor, and Social Development. The purpose

of the program is to initiate business as a

way of addressing unemployment among

youth. The fund is allocated 265 billion

shillings annually and the program is

targeted for implementation in 112 districts

for a period of 5 years. So far 27 districts

-Considering the

opportunities associated

with youth engagement in

agribusiness, agricultural

based enterprises initiated

by youth should be

promoted and supported

by the program.

25

were earmarked to benefit from the first

phase of implementation.

Business,

Technical and

Vocational

Education and

Training

(BTVET)

Strategic Plan

2011 – 2020 –

‘Skilling

Uganda.’

The main purpose of BTVET Strategic Plan is

creation of employable skills and

competencies relevant in the labor market

instead of educational certificates. Among its

objectives is to expand and improve

agriculture training.

-Implementation of the

plan should benefit the

youth by enhancing their

skills for effective

engagement in agri-

business through training.

National

Agricultural

Advisory

Services

(NAADS).

This is the national institution which provides

agricultural extension advisory services to

farmers in Uganda. Whereas the program

targets youth, there are limitations for youth

engagement which must be addressed. For

example most youth don’t own land and

secondly, they have specific preferences of

the agricultural value chain segments to

engage in and these may not necessary be

the focus of the program.

-Strategies for promoting

and supporting youth

engagement in agri-

business should be

developed and

implemented in the

NAADS program.

However, according to

Actionaid Uganda , on the

whole it was the

progressive farmers that

have benefited from the

program

7.2 Analysis of existing strengths, weaknesses, threats, and emerging

opportunities for youth engagement in agri-business in Uganda

There exits several strengths, weaknesses, threats and opportunities for effective

engagement of youth in agri-business in Uganda. Therefore, the youth and the stakeholders

interested in advancing youth engagement in agri-business need to understand these

strengths, weaknesses, threats and opportunities for better positioning of themselves to

undertake appropriate actions.

Existing strengths for youth engagement in agri-business in Uganda

(i) The youth are very energetic, enthusiastic and innovative, thus they are in the prime of

their lives physically and mentally. Thus, engagement would increase productivity in the

agri-business;

(ii) Youth can easily be mobilized and organized for bulk production and marketing through

contract farming and out grower schemes;

Existing key weaknesses for youth engagement in agri-business in Uganda

(i) Majority of youth have limited knowledge and skills for effective engagement in agri-

business and hence this undermines productivity;

(ii) Majority of youth have limited access to resources (land, credit/loans, and agricultural

inputs) for investment in agri-business;

(iii) Most youth are ignorant about the potential of agri-business for wealth creation.

Existing key threats for youth engagement in agri-business in Uganda

(i) Fear of the climate change and variability induced disasters which present high risk for

investment in agri-business enterprises;

26

(ii) Competitive alternative employment opportunities in other sectors like services such as

transport among others;

(iii) Increased engagement of youth (especially youth in urban and peri-urban areas) in

unproductive activities such as betting, prostitution and robbery.

Existing emerging opportunities and motivations for youth engagement in agri-

business in Uganda

(i) Existing policy environment and framework for youth engagement in agri-business at

international, sub-regional and national levels;

(ii) The energy and enthusiasm of youth when applied appropriately would advance

productivity of agri-businesses;

(iii) Agri-business provides gainful employment for livelihood for youth;

(iv) There are various training opportunities in agribusiness which youth can tap into;

(v) Communal land ownership especially in northern Uganda enables youth to access land

on which they can establish agriculture enterprises;

(vi) Favorable climate with two planting seasons;

(vii) Availability of information about both traditional and modern farming practices and

methods;

(viii) Existence of several Non-governmental organization providing agricultural extension

and support services (such as skills, inputs, market linkages and market information);

(vix) Access to finance through existing Village Saving and Loan schemes (VSLA) and

Saving and Credit Cooperatives Societies (SACCOs);

(x) Value addition (incubation centers). There are a number of incubation centers like

Uganda Industrial Research Institute (UIRI), Afri-banana products, the Consortium for

Enhancing University Responsiveness to Agri-business Development (CURAD) and The

Technology Business Incubation Center, School of Food Technology, Nutrition & Bio-

Engineering, Makerere University that youth could take advantage of to develop value

added agricultural products and sharpen their food processing skills.

(xi) Agriculture is recognized by the government of Uganda as a source of growth,

employment and poverty eradication (National Development Plan 2010-1015, Uganda Vision

2040).

(xii) Additionally the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development underscores

government willingness to undertake investments that will make agriculture more attractive

and profitable. For example government allocated UGX 25 billion under the Youth Venture

Capital Fund and part of this money will be used by the youth to undertake agriculture

related enterprises;

(xiii) Development partners are willing to promote initiatives which support youth

engagement in agri-business through implementation of youth development and livelihood

programs;

(xiv) Uganda is urbanizing and will continue to do so and therefore, this presents an

opportunity (market) for the youth in farming to sell their produce (food).

(xv) Existing institutions for training youth in agri-business.

27

8.0 Conclusion and recommendations

8.1 Conclusions

Productive involvement of youth in agri-business in Uganda is a spring board for increased

and sustainable productivity, wealth creation, employment and economic development

considering an agricultural sector which is suffering from an aging generation of farmers.

There are various opportunities which youth should tap into as motivation for engaging in

agri-business. Despite the existence of various supportive policies, programs and initiatives

at the local, national and international levels which promote youth participation in agri-

business, there are several challenges for youth engagement in agri-business. These must

be addressed through active involvement of key stakeholders each effectively implementing

their roles to advance youth participation in agri-business.

8.2 Recommendations

Advancing youth involvement and benefit in agri-business requires a multi-disciplinary

approach and the involvement of all agriculture development practitioners, policy makers,

the private sector, agricultural government agencies, family farms and other professionals.

The following practical and actionable recommendations are suggested:

• The Ministry of Gender, Labor, and Social Development should consider the review of

the National Youth Policy, (2001) to address emerging issues in respect to youth

engagement in agri-business.

• The Government of Uganda through the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industries

and Fisheries (MAAIF) and National Agricultural Advisory Services program and Local

Government should transform agriculture from entirely subsistence to profitablel

agribusiness. This can partly be achieved through mechanization of farming (cheap

tractors and use of other implements/equipment such as power tillers, pumped

irrigation systems (using motorized pumps, solar powered pumps), treadle pumps,

thresher and seed planter;

• Change the image and perceptions about agriculture in the face/mind of the youth

considered as a low-income, high-risk career. This requires continuous public

awareness by the media in collaboration with MAAIF, National Agricultural Advisory

Services program, Youth Non-Governmental Organizations, Local Government, Non-

Governmental Organizations, International Non-Governmental & Inter-Governmental

Organizations and Private Sector particularly through profiling and dissemination of

success stories and use of role models (youth who are successfully in

farming/agribusiness). The dissemination should be targeted and several

dissemination strategies applied such as illustrative posters, video documentaries,

media (i.e. radio, television) and social media platforms to reach out to as many

youth of different categories and background;

• Effective policy and programs (Table 7) implementation to ensure that youth are

supported to participate and benefit from agri-business. This should be spearheaded

by the respective lead institutions such as MAAIF, Ministry of Gender, Labor, and

Social Development, Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ministry of Local Government,

Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Ministry of Lands, Housing

and Urban Development, Ministry of Water and Environment.

• Financial Institutions should develop youth friendly financial products, thus these

must be appropriate, affordable and accessible by the youth;

• The Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industries and Fisheries, National Agricultural

Advisory Services program should promote short-term high value crops (such as

horticultural crops) with high returns, which majority of youth are interested in so

that more youth are attracted into agri-business;

• The Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industries and Fisheries, National Agricultural

Advisory Services program, Ministry of Trade and Industry should support youth

28

farmers to produce for the market. This can be achieved through improving access to

market information by the youthful farmers and also facilitating youth farmers

organization and institutional development to tap into production and marketing

opportunities such as bulking through contract farming and out grower schemes;

• The Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industries and Fisheries, Ministry of Water and

Environment should support adoption of appropriate water for production and

irrigation technologies by youth farmers to strengthen their resilience to climate

change and variability disasters particularly prolonged droughts. Examples of such

technologies include: tied ridges, stone terracing, fanya juu, fanya chini, spate

irrigation, rooftop and roadside runoff water harvesting;

• Youth Non-Governmental Organizations, other local Non-Governmental

Organizations, International Non-Governmental Organizations and Private Sector

should conduct targeted training for respective youth categories to strengthen their

knowledge and skills in respect to several requirements for profitable farming and

agri-business management based on the youth’s interests, preferences (such as

horticultural crops) and training needs assessment. This should be through

establishing youth couching and mentoring platforms established at national,

regional and district levels for linking youth with technical knowledge, exposure and

resources. These can be integrated with other knowledge sharing activities such as

youth-led seminars, debates, exposures, innovation fairs and talk shows, exchange

visits;

• Supporting youth to benefit from training opportunities for agri-business

management existing in several agribusiness incubation centers such as Uganda

Industrial Research Institute, Afri-banana products, the Consortium for Enhancing

University Responsiveness to Agribusiness Development and the Technology

Business Incubation Center, School of Food Technology, Nutrition and Bio-

Engineering, Makerere University;

• The Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industries and Fisheries should establish and

manage information, communication, technology and social media interactive

platforms for farming and agri-business information dissemination targeting youth

and also to generate their feedback on selected farming and agri-business topics;

• Research and Development Institutions such as Economic Policy Research Centre,

Universities and Non-Governmental Organizations should conduct studies dedicated

to generation of information and data about the number of youth involved in

farming/agri-business and the impact of several policies and programs

implementation on youth livelihood. These will be useful for future decision making

towards promoting and supporting youth engagement in agri-business at different

scales (local, national, sub-regional and international). Additionally, studies focusing

on youth engagement in specific value chains (such as dairy, fish, timber) and

associated aspects (such as mechanization, access to credit) would be equally

important;

• The Media, Youth Non-Governmental Organizations, Non-Governmental

Organizations, International Non-Governmental Organizations, Schools, Religious

Institutions, Cultural Institutions and Political Leaders should create more targeted

awareness about these policies and programs (Table 7) at all levels to promote

effective youth participation in their implementation;

• Youth Non-Governmental Organizations, Non-Governmental Organizations,

International Non-Governmental Organizations, Private Sector, Religious and Cultural

Institutions should conduct more lobbying and advocacy to advance engagement of

youth in agri-business value chains in the implementation of several agricultural

development programs at different levels.

29

9.0 .References

Action Aid Uganda, Development Research and Training and Uganda National Non-

Governmental Organizations Forum. (2012). Action Aid Uganda, Development Reasearch

and Training and Uganda National NGO Forum. Lost Opportunity? Gaps in Youth Policy

and Programming in Uganda, Kampala.

http://www.actionaid.org/sites/files/actionaid/youthrepot-final_0.pdf.

African Youth Charter, (2006).

http://www.au.int/en/sites/default/files/AFRICAN_YOUTH_CHARTER.pdf.

Ahaibwe, G., Mbowa, S., Mayanja, L. M. (2013). Youth engagement in Agriculture in

Uganda: Challenges and prospects. Research series No. 106. Economic Policy Research

Centre, Kampala.

DSIP, (2010). Agricultural Sector Development Strategy and Investment Plan. Ministry of

Agriculture, Animal Industries and Fisheries, Entebbe.

FAC, (2010). Future Agricultures Consortium. Future farmers? Exploring youth aspirations

for African Agriculture. Policy brief 037. University of Sussex, Brighton.

ILO, (2006). International Labor Organization. Global Employment Trends for the youth.

International Labour Office, Geniva.

International Youth Foundation (2011). Youth map Uganda. Navigating challenges. Charting

hope. A cross-sector situational analyses on youth in Uganda. Baltimore.

Krejeje, R. V., Morgan, D. W. (1970). Determining sample size for research activities.

Educational and Psychological Measurement, 30, 607-610.

Larok, A., Okiring, H., Mayambala, J. (2010). At crossroads? The youth, politics of interest

groups and influencing National policy processes in Uganda.

http://www.actionaid.org/sites/files/actionaid/at_crossroads_youth_rngagement_in_poli

cy_in_uganda.pdf.

Nanna, J. J. (2009). Young people’s possibilities for influence in Uganda. Report for the

Danish Youth Council. Next Generation Advice.

http://duf.dk/uploads/tx_tcshop/Young_People_s_possibilities_for_influence_in_Uganda.

pdf.

Ministry of Local Government, (2014). Community Driven Development Program. Kampala.

http://citione.net/www/cdd.molg/?page_id=114

National Agricultural Policy for Uganda, (2011). Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industries

and Fisheries, Entebbe.

National Cooperative Development Policy for Uganda, (2011). Ministry of Tourism, Trade

and Industry, Kampala.

National Industrial Policy for Uganda, (2008). A framework of Uganda’s transformation,

competitive and prosperity. Ministry of Tourism, Trade and Industry, Kampala.

National Trade Policy, (2007). Ministry of Tourism, Trade and Industry, Kampala.

National Land Policy, (2013). Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Planning, Kampala.

Oluwaseum, O. (2014). Fifteen major reasons youth in Africa donot like a carreer in

Agriculture. http://www.nairaland.com/1624644/15-major-reasons-youth-africa

PRDP, (2007). Peace, Recovery and Development Plan for Northern Uganda. Office of the

Prime Minister. Kampala.

Santacoloma, P., Suarez, R., Riveros, H. (2005). Strengthening agri-business linkages with

small-scale farmers. Case studies in the Latin America and Caribbean. Food and

Agricature Organisation, Rome.

UBOS, (2010). Uganda National Bureau of Statistics. The National Labor Force and Child

Activities Survey 2011/2012: Youth Employment Report

Uganda Climate Change Policy, (2013). Ministry of Water and Environment, Kampala.

United Nations, (2000). World Program of action for Youth. Economic and Social Affairs.

New York. http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unyin/documents/wpay2010.pdf.

United Nations, (1985). Secretary-General’s Report to the General Assembly, A/40/256,

1985

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Valle, F. D. (2012). Exploring opportunities and constraints for young entrepreneurs in

Africa. Food and Agriculture Organization, Rome.

World Bank, (2012). Health Nutrition and Population Statistics. Washington DC.

Youth Decade Plan of Action (2009). Accelerating youth empowerment for sustainable

development. The roadmap towards the implementation of the African Youth Charter.

http://africa-

youth.org/sites/default/files/African%20Youth%20Decade%20Plan%20of%20Action.pdf.

.

31

Annex 1 – Example of some of the key stakeholder’s initiatives engaging youth in agribusiness in Uganda.

N

o

Name of the

organization

Brief description about the initiative Scale of

implementation

Contact

Person

Contact details

1 Youth Livelihood

Programme

The implementation of the program fund is

coordinated by the Ministry of

Gender,Labor, and Social Development.

The purpose of the program is to initiate

business as a way of addressing

unemployment among youth. The fund is

allocated 265 billion shillings annually and

the program is targeted for

implementation in 112 districts for a period

of 5 years.

Country-wide,

however the

initial phase is

being

implemented in

27 districts.

James Ebitu

Youth

Livelihood

Programme

Coordinator

Ministry of Gender

Labor and Social

Development

Email:

jamesebitu@gmail.com

2 Farming Consult

(FACOM) -

Uganda

FACOM provides farming consultation and

management services. Their mission is to

promote commercial farming through

advisory and encouraging local production

in Uganda. They implemented the

following key activities: Monthly farmer’s

trainings on commercial production of

selected crops (i.e. pawpaw, yams,

mangoes and passion fruits); Organizing

annual agricultural training and tour for

students.

Central Uganda

region,

particularly

Kampala,

Luweero,

Wakiso and

Nakaseke

districts.

Iga Patrick,

Chief

Executive

Officer

P. O. Box 32012

Kampala, Uganda. Plot

831, Makerere Kavule,

Bombo road. Nissi

House.

Email:

facomug@gmail.com

Tel: +2567784105161

3 Katende

Harambe Rural-

urban training

centre

Operates a training and demonstration

center focusing on sustainable

intensification and commercialization of

smallholder farm production by facilitating

the improvement of agricultural practices

through training and on-farm technical

support services, planning and

management, capacity building, storage,

processing and marketing, appropriate

technology and improved livestock and

crop husbandry.

Central region

especially in

the urban

areas

Jane Magoba

Nyanzi

Kira Town Council-

Wakiso district 5km

away from Kireka of

Jinja Road off

Namugongo road.

Tel: +256782 328 500

4 Shatwa Mixed

Farm

Conducts regular training and awareness

on commercial vegetable (especially garlic)

production among famers.

Central region

particularly

Kayunga,

Twaha

Kakooza

Kayunga, Bugeerere;

Tel: +256776993187

or +256392080456;

32

Kampala,

Wakiso,

Mubende and

Masaka

districts

Email:

shatwamixedfarm@gm

ail.com

5 Newvision Group Documents and disseminates experiences

of successful farmers in their daily

Nevision publications and also Bukedde

Television. The most notable

documentation in this respect include:

Harvest money, Kewerimidde,

National and

Country-wide

coverage

Kato Joshua JR Complex, Plot 101

Jinja road

6 Monitor

Publications

Documents and disseminates experiences

of successful farmers in their daily monitor

publications. The most notable

documentation is this respect includes:

seeds of gold and farming columns.

National and

Country-wide

coverage

The Editor 29/35, 8th street; P. O.

Box 12141, Kampala;

Tel: 04147744100

Email:

editorial@ug.nationme

dia.com

7 Central

Broadcasting

Services (CBS)

FM - PEWOSA

An initiative of the the Kabaka of Buganda

implemented by CBS FM in collaboration

with Stromme Foundation. The initiative

promotes savings and credits among

farmers and investment of the savings for

value addition through agro-processing

and packaging. Additionally, information

on agricultural production and agri-

business is aired on CBS FM on a regular

basis. Furthermore, annual cottage and

food industries trade fair are organized

with a purpose of creating awareness and

training for commercial agriculture and

agro-processing for wealth creation and

improved livelihood.

Central and

Eastern

Uganda regions

Managing

Director

Bulange, Mengo,

Rubaga Division,

Kampala

8 Radio Simba FM Broadcasts regular programs on

agricultural awareness and training about

production and agri-business for selected

crops (vanilla, coffee) and poultry in

partnership with Ssekalala Enterprises

Limited.

Central and

Eastern

Uganda regions

Managing

Director

Plot 2, Corporation

Rise, Bukoto, 31564,

Kampala, Uganda.

Tel: 041-543672

33

9 NTV-Uganda Documents and disseminates experiences

of successful farmers on NTV on a regular

basis. The most notable documentation in

this respect include:

National and

Country-wide

coverage

The Chief

Executive

Officer

10 Agri-ProFocus-

Uganda

The Agri-ProFocus Uganda Agri-Hub brings

together the different actors in the

agricultural sector and stimulates

cooperation and exchange amongst them.

On a day-to-day basis, the members

collaborate to improve their farmer

entrepreneurship interventions.

National and

Country-wide

coverage

Ms. Sylvia

Natukunda

c/o SNV Uganda

Country Office; Plot 36,

Luthuli Rise

11 Telesat

International

Cottage

Development

Institute

(TICIDI) c/o

Telesat-Uganda

Conducts training in entrepreneurship

skills focusing on promotion of

establishment of small cottage industries

for value addition including agricultural

products value chain. They also facilitate

access and installation of several types of

cottage industry machinery including agro-

based machinery for processing and value

addition.

National level Maalik Fahad

Kayondo

Room B, 3, 2nd Floor,

Platinum House, Burton

Street, Kampala;

Tel:

+256712807716/+256

392945667;

Email:

info@telesatinternation

al.net

12 National

Agricultural

Research

Organization

(NARO)

NARO is implementing a strategy targeting

to encourage youth to get interested for

enrollment in Agricultural research and

technology development by targeting

schools. These would later be trained to

replace the aging generation of agricultural

scientists in the National Research

Institutions. This initiative is promoted

through essay completions for secondary

schools and tertiary institutions

coordinated by the Uganda Bio-sciences

centre. The winners are motivated by

giving them prizes and awards e.g. laptops

and books. Subsequently, the students

access additional knowledge and skills

through mentoring and backstopping by a

network between students, teachers and

scientists coordinated by NARO.

National level Dr. Barbara

Mugwanya

National Crop

Resources Research

Institute (NaCRRI),

Namulonge

Email:

ubic.nacrri@gmail.com

34

13 Economic Policy

Research Centre

(EPCR)

EPRC is a reputable, credible and

independent policy think tank in Uganda

renowned for providing research based

evidence and policy analysis to support the

formulation, implementation, monitoring

and evaluation of government policies.

The mission of EPRC is to foster

sustainable growth and development of

the Ugandan economy by advancing the

role of research in policy processes. This is

done through provision of high quality

applied research, practical policy analysis

and advice, and policy focused

dissemination and discourse.

They also undertake capacity building

activities through intellectual and scholar

exchange, networking with accredited

national and international institutions and

scholars and hands on skills sharpening for

young professionals, technocrats and

policy makers

National Dr. Sarah

Ssewanyana

Plot 51, Pool Road,

Makerere University

Campus

P.O. Box 7841,

Kampala, Uganda

Tel: +256-414-

541023/4, Fax: +256-

414-541022

Email:

eprc@eprc.or.ug, Web:

www.eprc.or.ug

14 Uganda Food

Rights Alliance

(FRA)

FRA was formed in 1999 to build collective

voice and action to address the structure

and processes that create inequalities in

food production, distribution and

consumption. The network secretariat is

based at Volunteer Efforts for

Development Concerns

(VEDCO) http://www.vedcouganda.org/.

Currently with 25 members, the network

enables its members to strengthen civil

society presence in international policy

dialogue and to advocate the

establishment of food security as a

recognized human right. FRA builds

National Fredrick

Kawooya

AA Uganda

fredrick.kawo

oya@actionai

d.org

Or

Agnes Kirabo

VEDCO

vedco@infoco

m.co.ug

vedco@vedco

.or.ug

agneskirabo

Volunteer Efforts For

Development Concerns

Coordination Office

Plot 129 Block 2

Bukesa, Nakulabye

P.O Box 1244 Kampala

Tel: 256-414-270 598

Email: vedco@infocom.

co.ug

WEBSITE:

www.vedcouganda.org

35

awareness and helps to mobilize advocacy

action among farmers and other

stakeholders to inform agricultural policy.

The project also builds strategies to

support sustainable agriculture in agrarian

communities; addressing living standards,

employment, market access, and quality

assurance alongside integrated rural

development.

@vedco.or.ug

15 Participatory

Ecological Land

use Management

Association –

Uganda (PELUM)

PELUM Uganda is a network of Civil Society

Organizations that have chosen to work

together to improve the livelihoods of the

poor. Since 1995, PELUM Uganda has been

working to improve the livelihoods of

small-scale farmers and the sustainability

of rural communities, through the fostering

of ecological land use management. We:

Share skills and knowledge about good

practices and techniques, through a broad

network of likeminded organizations;

Undertake research and demonstration

projects; and advocate for policies that

better support small-scale farmers

National and

Africa sub-

region

Ms. Stella

Lutalo

Plot 155, Kira road,

Kamwokya, P. O. Box

35804, Kampala –

Uganda. Tel:

0414533973; Email:

pelumuganda@pelumu

ganda.org

16 African Women

Economic Policy

Network

(AWEPON)

AWEPON is a network of African women’s

organizations that works on gender issues

as they relate to economic policy. The

organisation seeks to strengthen the

capacity of women through research,

training and advocacy, to influence the

shape of economic policy.

Areas of focus include:

-macroeconomic policies and trade issues;

-capacity building;

-follow up to the world summit on

sustainable development.

AWEPON organizes workshops and

National and

Africa sub-

region

Florence

Kasule,

Executive

Director

AWEPON

Plot 145 Kiira Road,

Kamwokya. P. O. Box

33576 Kampala. Tel:

256 414 344 181, Fax

256 414 344 176;

Email:

awepon@utlonline.co.u

g; Website:

www.awepon.net

36

presentations on gender and trade issues,

macro-economics and government policy.

It implements an AWEPON Youth

Associates (AYA) programme.

17 National Organic

Agriculture

Movement

(NOGAMU)

NOGAMU is an umbrella organization which

unites producers, processors, exporters,

NGOs and other institutions and

organizations that are involved in the

promotion and development of the organic

sector in Uganda. Established in 2001, it is

now one of the highly esteemed Business

Support Organizations (BSOs) providing a

range of services to the sector. In an effort

to ensure that its services reach members

in all parts of Uganda.

NOGAMU's objectives

-To build capacity and promote Training,

Research, Extension and Education in

organic agriculture in Uganda

-To promote Local and Export Marketing of

organic products from Uganda

-To develop and increase the application of

organic standards and promote certified

organic production in Uganda

-To increase awareness and attract

support for organic agriculture in Uganda

National and

Local

Mosses

Kiggundu

Muwanga,

Chief

Executive

Officer

Plot 957 Galukande

Close off Tank Hill

road, Muyenga

P.o. Box

70071, Kampala, Ugan

da

Telephone Contact:

+256 312 26 40 39

Fax : +256 312 26 40

40

General email contact:

admin@nogamu.org.ug

Market and Trade

Information contact:

organictradepoint@nog

amu.org.ug

NOGAMU

Website: www.nogamu

.org.ug

18 Sustainable

Agriculture

Training Network

(SATNET)

SATNET focuses on the following:

-Create public awareness on sustainable

agriculture and related fields:

-Enhance networking amongst her

organizations and other stake holders

-Influence formulation and implementation

of appropriate sustainable agricultural

policies;

Rwenzori

region

Meth Kasukali

0782099910

Masereka

Emmanuel

emaata@yah

oo.com

P.O.Box 884, Fort

Portal

Plot 6A Mugurusi Rd.,

Fort-Portal Uganda

Telephone: +256 0483

422487

Email:

satnet@utlonline.co.ug.

37

-Provide a platform on which to widen the

knowledge and information base in

sustainable agriculture.

admin@satnet.org.ug

19 The Association

of professional

Women in

Agriculture and

Environment

AUPWAE focuses on the following:

-Disseminate improved and appropriate

agriculture and environmental

technologies;

-Advocacy for gender sensitive policies and

programs through research, advisory and

other appropriate services that impact on

agriculture and environment. Women are

empowered to advocate at all levels;

-Capacity building in all areas for

agriculture and environment improvement.

National &

Local

Dr. Harriet N.

Muloki

(0772601623

)

Concepta

M.Mukasa

mmconcepta

@yahoo.com

0772467446

P.O Box Kampala

Plot 4A Kimera RD,

NURRU House Ntinda

Telephone:039289859

7

Email:

aupwae@yahoo.com

20 Uganda National

Farmers

Federation

(UNFFE)

UNFFE focuses on the following:

-Deliver Agricultural Advisory services;

-Influence agricultural policy through

lobbying and Advocacy;

-Distribute farm inputs/implements and

market members produce through our

trading and business arm - Uganda

Farmers Agribusiness Ltd (UFAL).

National Augustine

Mwendya

0772616926

Uganda National

Farmers Federation

P.O BOX 6213 Kampala

Uganda.

Plot 27,Nakasero Rd.

unfa@starcom.co.ug

Website:

http://www.unffe.org

21 The Uganda

National

Apiculture

Development

Organisation

(TUNADO)

TUNADO is implementing a three year

programme funded by TRIAS about

Enabling Synergies between organized

enterprising people. We realized that youth

lack means inform of startup capital, skills,

information and want quick money and

hence a limitation to engage in

agribusiness. However, beekeeping

presents a huge opportunity for the youth

especially the active poor rural youth.

Beekeeping does not require agricultural

productive land, it can be practiced on

abandoned, hilly, rock, beekeeping is

accepted in protected areas e.g. parks and

Forest reserves, no one feeds bees in

In West Nile

(Arua, Nebbi

and Zombo)

Bunyoro

(Hoima,

Masindi and

Buliisa)

We are looking

for

opportunities

to roll to the

entire country

Biryomumais

ho Dickson

biryomumaisho@tunad

obees.org or

bidicks@yahoo.co.uk

0414258070 or

0782891933

P.O BOX 8680 Kampala

Plot 76 Buganda Road

38

Uganda like cattle etc hence serves time,

market for honey is available locally,

national and at regional and international

level. In the programme we are providing

training and skilling youth along the

apiculture value chain, providing and

linking youth to the identified market,

strengthening their groups and linking

them to financial institutions.

At national level we have developed the

national beekeepers extension and training

manual to be used to train all interested

youth in the country in beekeeping and we

are using youth to youth training model

(farmer led extension model)

22 MICTS MICTS is an IT company specializing in

skilling youth with graphic knowledge to

make agriculture poster and training

manual cartoons and training aids. MICTS

realized that majority of rural youth in

agriculture do not know how to read and

write and hence a limitation to accessing

information for modern agribusiness

practice. Hence we have specialized in

making posters, fliers, cartoons for

agriculture.

At national

level

Ainebyona

Barnet

Managing Director-

MICTS

Plot 40 Bombo road

Carol House

0704897866

bainebyona@gmail.co

m

25 Skilling Uganda

Programme

The main purpose of BTVET Strategic Plan

is creation of employable skills and

competencies relevant in the labor market

instead of educational certificates. Among

its objectives is to expand and improve

agriculture training.

Country-wide Director P. O. BOX 7063

Kampala, Uganda

Tel: 256-41-234451/4

Fax: 256-41-234920

Email: pro@education.

go.ug

26 Go Organic –

Young

Professionals

Networking for

Go Organic was founded in 2012 by

International Training Course on Organic

Agriculture alumni to provide a platform on

which to build a sustainable organic

East Africa Daphine

Kamusinguze

Uganda Chapter

Email:

Organicnetwork.eastafr

ica@gmail.com or

39

Organic

Agriculture in

East Africa

network across East Africa borders. It

brings together individuals, companies,

students, organizations, institutions to

promote organic principles and values. It’s

a multi-national initiative managed under

country-specific chapters.

kdaphine@yahoo.com

40

Annex 2 – List of respondents (youth groups) involved in focus group discussions

Name of the group/Individual youth

interviewed

District Contact person Tel

1. Kanyolo Abataaki Ebekolera

Development Association

Kibuuku Wasiima Moses 0784154911

2. Soroti Integrated Development

Agency- staff

Soroti Olupot

Emmanuel

0782792799

3. Ndibulungi Horticultural cluster Luweero Senkesa William

4. Uganda Women’s efforts to save

orphans

Kaberamaido Opejo Seth 0773226396

5. Awelu youth farmers group Eleku moses 0788103151

6. Kodekere youth farmers group Obongi Julius 0756676203

7. Maki Teko youth farmers group Odur Charles 0788697185

8. Abarowalu youth group Obura Moses 0773707760

9. Awelu Youth group Okada Patrick 0773697306

10. Agule Youth farmers group Ewaru Simon 0779619264

11. Jo Can Dongo VSLA Owae David

12. Medateko VSLA Ekimu Peter

13. Obumwe youth farmers Masindi Kamukama Bob

14. SIDA– Soroti Youth Chapter Soroti Ojok Andrew

Amos

0700358380

15. Amolatar youth farmers, NAADS Amolatar Okaka Phillip 0755834657

16. SIDA - Katakwi Youth Chapter Katakwi Amuge Catherine 0778805225

17. Beropamungu Youth group Zombo Omirambe

Robert

0787575215

18. Kampala beekeepers association Bulisa Kugisa Julius 0785873395

19. YEED VSLA Kampala Taremwa Joseph 0701949776

20. YEDMA youth group Kampala Tinyefuza

William

0771825379

41

Annex 3– List of key informants

Name Designation Contact (email and telephone)

Jenipher

Nakiyemba

Programme

Manager AS4Y

Plot 1608,Kironde Road Muyenga ,PO Box

33333,Kampala Uganda

Tel: +256312267131

Email: Jenipher.Nakiyemba@icco-cooperation.org

Biryomumaisho

Dickson

Executive

Director

The Uganda

National

Apiculture

Development

Organization

(TUNADO)

Biryomumaisho Dickson

Executive Director

The Uganda National Apiculture Development

Organization (TUNADO)

P.O.Box 8680 Kampala-Uganda

Tel: 0414258070

MOB: +256782891933

Email: biryomumaisho@tunadobees.org

Alt email: bidicks@yahoo.co.uk

Tinyefuza

William

Managing Director

and Founder

Youth Empowerment And Development Through

Modernized Agriculture (YEDMA) Africa

0756327289

Taremwa

Joseph

Executive Director Youth Empowerment in Enterprises Development

(YEED)

0701949776

Peninah

Ngategize

Executive Director Ekika Community Development Initiatives -

Luweero

0772407479

Monica Malega Policy and

Advocacy Officer

Uganda Women Entrepreneurs Association

Plot 38 Lumumba Avenue

Tel: 041-343952

Cell: 0772-326969/0755-326969

Email: mmalega@uweal.co.ug

David Mutyaba

Katende

Coordinator Masindi District Farmers Association

Cell: 0772-857487

Email:davidkatende.mutyaba@gmail.com

Tusimomuhangi

Lawrence

Entomologist Masindi District Local Government

Cell: 0772-663763

Hannington

Wako

Member Y.A.A

0704 291949/0773 832878

hwako@uri.org/hanniecool@yahoo.com

42

Annex 4– List of stakeholders involved in the consultative and validation meeting

ATTENDANCE LIST FOR THE YOUTH IN AGRIBUSINESS VALIDATION WORKSHOP AT THE COPPER CHIMNEY RESTAURANT,

LUGOGO - 22ND JULY, 2014

NAME ORGANIZATION EMAIL DISTRICT PHONE NUMBERS

Racheal Kyobutungi

Agasha

Agribusiness

Directory

agribusinessdirectory@gmail.com Nakawa 789491035

Diana Ayebale

Agasha

Agribusiness

Directory

agribusinessdirectory@gmail.com Nakawa 778266960

Sylvia Natukunda Agri-ProFocus snatukunda.agrihub@gmail.com Kampala 782551473

Alyek Marion Agri-ProFocus alyekmarion@gmail.com Kampala 781580997

Anja de Feijter Agri-ProFocus adefeijter.agrihub@gmail.com Kampala 757725555

Odii Phillip Agri-Trust (u)ltd philipodii@gmail.com Kampala 701471764

Regina Nazziwa Café Africa Uganda regina@cafeafrica.org Kampala 779184713

Emmanuel Osekeny Café Africa Uganda osekeny@cafeafrica.org Kampala 772702623

Kitutu Doreen CELED Mbale 756949437

William Mubiru Danie Consult diwilliams2006@yahoo.com Kampala 0716400300/ 702020748

Joyce Atuhaire DATREC hairejoyce@gmail.com Kampala 703951128

Ahumuza Mercy

Sofia ESDC mercykyomukama@gmail.com Ntinda 706762335

Ambrose Bugaari ESDC ambrose_bugaari@yahoo.com

Ntinda 752573900

Andrew Nangai FinAfrica/YEDMA/FK andrew@finafrica.ug,

andrewnangai@gmail.com Kampala 0777206494/0711336617

Otika Edward FK Youth Mentoring otikaedward@gmail.com Kampala 0705 284429

43

Juliana Lanyero FK Youth Mentoring julianajoy16@gmail.com Kampala 0789 340538

Brian Kibirige Gayaza High School Bkryan090@gmail.com Gayaza 0702134555/0789608268

Ddungu Ronald Gayaza High School ronaldddungu@yahoo.com Gayaza 772433879

Jenipher

Nakiyemba ICCO Cooperation Nakiyemba@icco-cooperation.org Kampala

0312267131,

0779466297

Nakalanda Julie

Matovu

Juls Consults

Agribusiness &

Rural Devpt for

Empowered Voices

matovujuls@gmail.com Wakiso 0701/0772-636688

Wasswa Patrick Kayunga Youth

Network kayonet47@yahoo.com Kampala 772528741

Mabisi Juliet Makerere University

(Environment) juliebt2@yahoo.com Kampala 775407142

Christopher

Mulindwa

Pig Production and

Marketing Uganda

Ltd

chrismulindwa@gmail.com Kampala 0773422445/

0703712828

Julius Ceasar

Ssemyalo Solidaridad Julius.Ssemyalo@solidaridadnetwork.org Kampala 0772 466403

Elizabeth Asiimwe Superchem Agro

Centre superchemagrocentre@yahoo.com Kampala

0774123865,

0701902408

Kirabo Ronald

THINK YOUTH

DEVELOPMENT

INITIATIVE

UGANDA

kibronie2004@gmail.com Wakiso 705035777

Biryomumaisho

Dickson TUNADO

bidicks@yahoo.co.uk,

biryomumaisho@tunadobees.org Kampala 782891933

Kirsten Spain

Hower USAID kspainhower@usaid.gov Kampala

Malcom Toland USAID EEA mtoland@ugandaeea.com Kampala 776281096

Martin Fowler USAID Uganda mfowler@usaid.gov Kampala 712859402

44

Mrungi Amanda UWEAL mrungiamanda@gmail.com Kampala

Kaahwa Jean YAA kahwajean@gmail.com 0782 243453

Tinyefuza William YEDMA williamt@yedmaafrica.org 0712 825379

Taremwa Joseph YEDMA joseph.taremwa@gmail.com Kampala 701949776

Isaac Muhofa YESE isaacmuhofa@gmail.com Kampala

Sekayi Yasin sekayiamos@gmail.com Kampala 705712365

45

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