Government-backed initiative targets sorghum, cassava, horticulture, beekeeping, and beef production to boost livelihoods and food security.
Moroto, Uganda: Farmers in the Karamoja sub-region have been urged to move beyond subsistence production and embrace climate-smart enterprises under a government-backed initiative aimed at building resilience against climate change.
At a multi-stakeholder forum in Moroto on Tuesday, September 30, experts, private sector actors, and local leaders rallied communities to adopt ventures such as sorghum, cassava, soybeans, horticulture, beekeeping, and beef production, arguing that smart agriculture could transform the region’s fragile food systems into sustainable livelihoods.
The meeting brought together private sector actors, local government officials, civil society organizations, and financial institutions to explore ways of unlocking private capital and innovation for climate-smart investments.
Focus on Value Chains
According to Abdallah Atibu, Nakapiripirit District Agriculture Officer and focal point for the Uganda Climate-Smart Agricultural Transformation Project, the initiative is designed to strengthen both crop and livestock value chains while building resilience to climate shocks.
He said the project will prioritize sorghum, cassava, and soybeans, alongside horticulture, black soldier fly farming, beekeeping, and beef production. Farmers will be organized into groups, trained on selected enterprises, and supported through government-funded production plans.
“Crop farmers are expected to open larger plots of land for cultivation, while livestock farmers will form groups of 10 to 15 members to co-fund breeding bulls for improved livestock multiplication,” Atibu explained. “Beekeepers will also be supported in honey production and processing for income generation.”
The project further targets opportunities in farm inputs, post-harvest handling, storage, fish farming, and road infrastructure. Atibu revealed that two 20-kilometre road sections in hard-to-reach areas had already been identified for verification before works begin.
Financing Remains a Challenge
While the project promises new opportunities, access to finance remains a major obstacle. Farmers at the meeting raised concerns about stringent loan requirements and hidden charges by financial institutions.
Model farmer Mark Sire from Moroto said banks often demand large tracts of land as collateral, which excludes many smallholders. “They want land titles, but most of us farm on communal land,” he said.
John Rex Achilla from Kotido recounted how his application for a UGX 20 million agricultural loan was instead processed as a salary loan with higher interest. Another farmer, Kidon Mike Onyang from Moroto, accused banks of continuing deductions even after he had cleared his loan.
Financial institutions, however, insist they are ready to support green investments. Post Bank has pledged to provide tailored information on climate-smart financing opportunities under the GROW program for women and the Agricultural Credit Facility (ACF). District production officers will also continue sharing details about matching and non-matching grants available under the project.
Jonas Mbabazi, a researcher and project manager at ACODE, said the forum was intended to highlight such opportunities and address barriers to credit. “We were bringing together farmers, private actors, and financial institutions to ensure people take advantage of government programs,” he said.
Land Tenure and Policy Barriers
Land tenure emerged as another sticking point. Derrick Loumo, Moroto District Senior Commercial Officer, said communal land systems prevent farmers from accessing large-scale financing. “Without titles, banks cannot finance you 100%,” he noted, urging policy reforms and encouraging farmers to form associations to qualify for government support.
Civil society leaders stressed the importance of awareness. Dr. Ayub Mukisa, Executive Director of the Karamoja Anti-Corruption Coalition, said many farmers remain unaware of available opportunities. “We need to create partnerships between government, donors, and the private sector,” he said. “Otherwise, programs exist on paper while people remain unaware.”
Despite the challenges, stakeholders agreed that climate-smart agriculture offers a pathway to resilience, food security, and poverty reduction in Karamoja. By linking farmers to value chains, improving infrastructure, and expanding access to finance, the project aims to transform the region’s fragile food systems into sustainable enterprises.
“There are a lot of opportunities,” Atibu emphasized. “What we need now is for farmers to take up these enterprises.”
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