Summary:
- Uganda gears up for its second Agribusiness Summit, focusing on financing solutions and climate resilience in agriculture to boost economic growth. With a strong emphasis on collaboration and innovation, the summit aims to harness Uganda’s agricultural potential for sustainable development.
Uganda is gearing up for the second Agribusiness Mkutano, themed “Cultivating Resilience: Agribusiness and Climate Finance as an Anchor for Sustainable Economic Growth,” slated for April 16th, 2024, at Kampala’s Mestil Hotel.
With hashtags #agribusiness24 and #agrimkutano24, the summit will shine a spotlight on pivotal advancements in agribusiness, spanning from global geopolitical shifts to innovative finance and climate-smart practices.
Despite Uganda’s substantial agricultural potential, with 80% of its land suitable for cultivation, only 35% is currently profitably utilized. While the sector contributes less than a quarter to Uganda’s GDP, it employs over 60% of the population, signaling significant opportunities for transformation.
The 2024 summit aims to tap into this potential by fostering discussions on diverse financing solutions to drive industrialization in the sector and enhance its resilience to climate change.
This exclusive, one-day event builds on the success of the inaugural Agribusiness Mkutano in 2022, which emphasized the importance of steering towards sustainable economic development through agro-industrialization.
The summit will draw insights from the Technical Working Group on Industrial Zones (TWGIZ), a product of the 2023 Economic Mkutano.
D. Bikhado Ofungi, Curator at The Mkutano Company, highlighted the summit’s alignment with Uganda’s National Development Plan, ensuring synergy between private sector initiatives and the country’s development vision.
Alfred Okot Okidi, Permanent Secretary of Water & Environment, underscored the pivotal role of Agritech in promoting climate-resilient agricultural practices, aligning with Uganda’s long-term development goals.
Prof. Pamela Mbabazi, Chair of the National Planning Authority, expressed optimism that the summit would foster impactful collaborations driving sustainable growth in Uganda’s agricultural sector.
