agriculture 1 October 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Government Pushes for Farmer-Led Innovation to Boost Agricultural Sector
Ugandan authorities are advocating for a shift towards farmer-led innovation to enhance agricultural productivity, increase yields, and improve market access for farmers. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/farmer-led-innovation-could-boost-yields-and-market-access-says-govt-5616386
The Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) is calling for a paradigm shift in Uganda’s agricultural sector, emphasizing the crucial role of farmers in driving innovation. Angella Namyenya, Principal Agricultural Extension and Skills Management Officer at MAAIF, stated that farmers should be at the forefront of developing and adopting new technologies and practices across the agricultural value chain.
Ms. Namyenya highlighted that farmer-led innovation is not about disregarding scientific research but rather about integrating farmers’ indigenous knowledge with scientific expertise. This collaborative approach, involving researchers, extension officers, farmers, and the private sector, aims to identify challenges, experiment with solutions, validate findings, and scale successful innovations to better meet farmers’ needs.
Speaking at the Enabling Rural Innovation (ERI) programme symposium in Wakiso District, Ms. Namyenya stressed that farmers should be considered the ‘first mile’ of agricultural innovation, not just the recipients. This means empowering them to lead in identifying and addressing sector-specific issues.
Beyond seed selection and cultivation techniques, farmer-led innovation also encompasses how farmers organize themselves, manage quality control, minimize post-harvest losses, and establish better relationships with processors and buyers. Keneth Maasa, Programme Manager at Horizont 3000, echoed these sentiments, advocating for strengthened partnerships to give smallholder farmers more control over their livelihoods and market decisions.
Horizont 3000 has invested significantly in supporting smallholder farmers, empowering them to identify market opportunities, innovate, and make informed decisions. The next phase of their program aims to build on these successes with further investment. The initiative employs a multi-module approach, including participatory diagnosis, market research, and enterprise development, to equip farmers with the skills to assess their situations, track progress, understand markets, and develop profitable, market-oriented enterprises.