Business 23 June 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Busoga Region Advised to Diversify Income Beyond Sugarcane
Experts are urging residents of Uganda's Busoga Sub-region to move beyond sole reliance on sugarcane farming, highlighting the economic vulnerabilities and environmental impacts associated with a single cash crop. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/busoga-urged-to-diversify-income-sources-beyond-sugarcane-farming-5506706
Residents of the Busoga Sub-region are being encouraged to explore income diversification beyond their traditional sugarcane cultivation. This advice comes amidst concerns that over-dependence on sugarcane farming exposes households and the wider regional economy to considerable risks.
The call was amplified during a recent business training workshop in Jinja City, part of the Generating Growth Opportunities and Productivity for Women Enterprises (GROW) Project, which gathered over 800 women entrepreneurs.
While sugarcane is a vital income source for many in Busoga, which accounts for approximately 35 percent of Uganda’s sugarcane milling capacity, its intensive farming has been linked to environmental degradation and economic instability for smallholder farmers. Enterprise Uganda Director General, Mr. Charles Ocici, stressed the importance of exploring alternative ventures.
“People should not limit themselves to one crop. They should assess what other opportunities can compete with sugarcane and invest in them as well,” Mr. Ocici stated, advising thorough market research before any investment.
The GROW Project training focused on crucial business skills, including planning, financial literacy, market analysis, record-keeping, and risk management, aiming to foster sustainable enterprises among women.
Mr. Ocici also demystified business financing, emphasizing that profits reinvested back into a business are a primary source of capital. He urged women entrepreneurs to build financial credibility by establishing banking records through active account usage, which can unlock future financing opportunities.
Local leaders and participants alike expressed enthusiasm for the training’s practical insights, with many vowing to share the acquired knowledge to combat poverty within their communities and improve their financial management practices. The GROW Project is a government initiative supported by the World Bank, aimed at transforming women-led enterprises.
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