I want to take this opportunity to welcome you to the first edition of the World Food Day Magazine. This is a publication of “The agribusiness magazine” a monthly publication that unlocks opportunities in Agriculture Value Chains. As a contribution to the development of the agriculture sector in Uganda coupled with our mission
of pioneering innovations in the sector, we partnered with the Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries to have the World Food Day Magazine published and distributed during the World Food Day Celebrations.

I take this opportunity to congratulate Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) upon this 70th anniversary. The World Food Day is celebrated on 16th October on the day when FAO was established.

The theme of the 2015 celebrations is “Social protection and agriculture; Breaking the cycle of rural poverty,” Uganda joins the rest of the World to celebrate the agriculture development initiatives by both the Government of Uganda and the Development Partners. It is worth the celebration as the number of hungry people in the world has reduced by 216 million from 1 billion to 795 million in the last ten years according to the world food insecurity status report 2015.

I wish you the best of the celebrations as you flip through the pages of this publication to read the inside stories.

Haam Rukundo

In the last 2 decades, the population of the world has doubled but the land available for Agriculture has remained the only constant of all the factors of production. As other factors increase, there is increased pressure onto the constant factor (Land) The implication of this is that Land has become the most scarce resource ever on the planet earth. When the supply of a resource is limited, it becomes inevitable for innovations to maximize productivity, efficiency and effectiveness.

I have  interacted with many commercial farmers who have invested in growing crops and or rearing animals and to their disappointment the returns are far less than the expected. This leaves me wondering whether they actually do all things right as technically expected or they keep beating around the bush trying this and that. I have personally made significant investment in a number of enterprises including fruits, dairy, and vegetables and I have been overwhelmed by the returns especially if I follow the advise from the technical experts. I have learnt that agriculture needs technical assistance from experts just like other ventures.

I have also learnt that just like I need an architecture to draw for me a plan for my house and a civil engineer to put up the structure, I equally need an agriculture technician to draw for me a farm business plan and an agronomist to guide me in the journey of farming.

We have therefore identified that most commercial farmers need a session of interaction with the practical experts and thus started the Agribusiness Clinic where we will allow you tell us your story of what you do at your farm and how you do it and we will be able to diagnose the problem and advise you on what you need to improve at your farm in order to start making for you profits. Just get in touch through the address below and get an appointment.

Overcome the Barriers; Get Up and Make A Difference

Having been raised in a humble family, I learnt to operate in an environment with boundaries and restrictions. In fact there is a time when I recall very well when I had a serious conflict with my parents about how I should cut my hair style. In my mind I was very genuine thinking that I needed not to consult them if I am going to the saloon and what hair style I should cut.

I did not enjoy my teenage age because I had all sorts ofregulations, rules and policies and I was always reminded that if I go contrary to them, I would face the wrath of Kiboko (Strokes of the cane).

Having grown up in such an environment my mind developed with a one directional thinking of receiving instructions and working with in a restricted framework.
It took me almost a decade to break the culture that was built along the growth path. I know of many people that are battling with a decision to start or expand a business.
You are not alone and it`s not your own making. I know you have a lot of fears and reservations and many people have assured you that you will not make it.

Your family might have threatened to isolate you if you make that decision. Do not blame them; they can not imagine that you can make. They have seen you develop from a tiny boy/girl to a big person now. They are still locked up in the past. They feel safer with the status quo

Get up, seek information, make that appointment, buy that input, till that land, plant that crop, expand that garden, buy that equipment, elect that farm structure and make a difference. It is a shame that in East Africa we import produce from Pakistan and the USA! Can you imagine!!!!!!!
Enjoy Reading

Through out the world the rate of business growth has a direct relationship with the rate of access and utilisation of financial services. Finance is the lifeblood of any business. There various forms of financing available for business including equity, loan e.t.c. Likewise, farming the oldest business need financing and not only financing but appropriate financing.

I mean financing that is tailored to the characteristics of the farming business. My first job after university was agriculture loans officer with a pioneer bank of agriculture financing in Uganda and through my interactions with the farmers, I learnt that they require loan products with interest rates, grace period, repayment period and schedules that are commensurate with the profitability and seasonality of the crops and livestock.

It is good to note that the East African Commission is working hard to transition from a commission to A Union. The Economies of the east African countries heavily depend on Agriculture for Taxation, Household Income and Job creation and the recent figures show an average of 70% dependence on direct and indirect employment to peasantry, commercial farming and other agribusinesses. 

Also, 90% of the industries in East Africa are agro-based implying that they utilize agriculture products as raw materials. Recently, I witnessed a launch of a fruit factory in Soroti Eastern Uganda and I interviewed one of the officials who disclosed to me that a feasibility study for the same project indicated that the local production can only supply 30% of the fruits required for the factory to operate at its full capacity.

A friend of mine shared with me his experience with making new year`s resolutions and I discovered his problem was far beyond what he knew. For the last 3 years he has been engaged in poultry business which he confessed that he had never made profits. 

I was very quick to ask him why he is not quitting the business and he was hesitant to give me an answer and I concluded that he is suffering from indecisiveness syndrome. 

It reminded me how my grandfather (Who is currently too old to remember me his first grandson) used to tell me that i should never follow a hyena who died of a hot potato because he could not spit it due to its sweetness (moreover it`s called a sweet potato).

I am humbled by the overwhelming response in readership of our magazine for the last 12 months. Allow me to usher you into the new year 2015 with our first issue of our second volume and as our promise we hope to unlock more agribusiness opportunities in the year 2015. I thank you for being part of the growing readership and again I am here to guarantee that the information contained herein is accurate and you can depend on it to make investment decisions in the agriculture sector.

Uganda has reached the 1.6million liters of milk production but this is far from the demand of the Ugandan milk in the local and international market. Dairy production is a unique enterprise that requires little space and is appropriate for most urban, peri-urban and rural communities.

You will find all the information that you need to establish a profitable dairy unit. There is also an overwhelming demand for fruits in Uganda particularly mangoes and passion fruits. Towards the end of year 2014, 60% of the passion fruits consumed in Uganda were imported from neighboring Kenya and Tanzania. According to experts, a household can earn as high as UGX 28million from an acre of passion fruits. This triggered the editorial to run expert advice on the growing of mangoes and passion fruits. These and other stories you will find in this publication in a simplified language that will make reading fun and educative.

Enjoy reading!!

Welcome to the august issue of the Uganda agribusiness Magazine a monthly publication that is dedicated to unlocking opportunities in Agriculture Value Chains. The magazine has registered remarkable success and achievement in attracting more than 25,000 print magazine subscribers and more than 100,000 on-line subscribers and social media followers.

The magazine is continuously being recognized as the leading regular information source kit for the twin sectors (Agriculture and business) in Uganda. Once again I am here to renew our commitment to updating our readers with regular information about agriculture prices, markets, new innovations, agro-events, interviews with Agro-entrepreneurs, and success stories. This is expected to pull the attention
of more masses readers that will grow a family subscribers giving growth to our advertisers.

Thank you for choosing the agribusiness magazine a monthly agribusiness media publication in Uganda. Enjoy reading!!

I am honored to welcome you to the July issue of the Agribusiness Magazine. The magazine that is dedicated to unlocking business opportunities in Agriculture Value Chains has registered remarkable success and achievement in attracting more than 30,000 print magazine subscribers and more than 100,000 on-line subscribers.

The Agribusiness Magazine is continuously being recognized as the of information for the agriculture sector in Uganda. We bridge the gap between agriculture and business by translating agriculture innovations and concepts into business opportunities.

I congratulate you for having discovered value in reading this magazine and I am here to guarantee that the information contained herein is accurate and you can depend on it to make investment decisions. We shall as much as possible give detailed information about opportunities and also expert knowledge and advice to enable you make comparisons between investment alternatives. This is a sectoral magazine and a gold mine for you who has interest in agribusiness. I guarantee you will learn, enjoy, and be guided to make money.

To you the supporter of the value chains, this is the source of information for market linkages and partnerships development for farmer based organisations, farmers and agro-entrepreneurs. To you the service provider, this is the entry point to the sector as you will meet all the people who matter in the sector and to you the agriculture value chain actor, this is actually for you as you will get information and advice that will improve your business performance. The publication uses simplified language that make reading fun but informative enough to strengthen your investment knowledge

We create a market place where deals are made on a monthly basis. This helps Ugandans develop independent, vibrant and profitable agribusiness enterprises which lead to increase in investments in agriculture, create more wealth for Ugandans, create employment opportunities and increase on value agribusiness products that will compete in the international markets.

The Agribusiness Magazine  Cover - Vol. 3 Issue 4 Edition

Vol. 3 Issue 4

The Agribusiness Magazine  - Vol. 3 Issue 4

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Vol. 2 Issue 7

The Agribusiness Magazine  - Vol. 2 Issue 7

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Vol. 2 Issue 6

The Agribusiness Magazine  - Vol. 2 Issue 6

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Vol. 2 Issue 5

The Agribusiness Magazine  - Vol. 2 Issue 5

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Vol. 2 Issue 4

The Agribusiness Magazine  - Vol. 2 Issue 4

The Agribusiness Magazine  Cover - Vol. 2 Issue 1 Edition

Vol. 2 Issue 1

The Agribusiness Magazine  - Vol. 2 Issue 1

The Agribusiness Magazine  Cover - August 2014 Edition

August 2014

The Agribusiness Magazine  - August 2014

The Agribusiness Magazine  Cover - July 2014 Edition

July 2014

The Agribusiness Magazine  - July 2014

The Agribusiness Magazine  Cover - Issue 1 Edition

Issue 1

The Agribusiness Magazine  - Issue 1

The Agribusiness Magazine exists in order to foster linkages among existing and potential agribusiness value chain actors & connect Uganda’s agricultural sector to the rest of the world. By doing so, we act as a catalyst to the development of Uganda’s agricultural sector. We inform and connect Ugandans in the agriculture sector, business persons, agriculture programs and projects with modern technologies, practices, ideas, and materials (increase Uganda’s human capital). 

We create a market place where deals are made on a monthly basis. This helps Ugandans develop independent, vibrant and profitable agribusiness enterprises which lead to increase in investments in agriculture, create more wealth for Ugandans, create employment opportunities and increase on value agribusiness products that will compete in the international markets.

World Food Day

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The Agribusiness Magazine - World Food Day

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