Northern Uganda Youth Urged to Embrace Agribusiness and Digital Marketing

Young people across Northern Uganda are being urged to shift their mindset regarding farming and embrace agribusiness as a lucrative commercial enterprise rather than a form of manual punishment. This call to action came during a two-year agribusiness boot camp organized by The Hunger Project-Uganda in Gulu City.

Held under the Youth Agriculture Entrepreneurship Programme (YAEP), the gathering targeted individuals aged 18 to 35, including unemployed youth and those facing land access challenges. The initiative focuses on equipping participants with practical skills to transform primary produce like cassava, maize, and sorghum into high-value marketable goods through processing and packaging.

Evelyn Namubiru Tondo, Head of Programmes at The Hunger Project-Uganda, emphasized that participants are encouraged to explore the entire agricultural value chain, incorporating financial management and marketing into their ventures. Additionally, Denis Mukomasi, the Nwoya District focal person, noted that successful youth groups received seed capital as incentives and have been connected to private sector entities like Bukona Agro Processors Limited to secure reliable markets.

Experts also stressed the importance of technology in modern farming. Tadeo Acuna of Young Professionals for Agricultural Development encouraged youth to leverage digital platforms like TikTok, Facebook, and WhatsApp to promote their agricultural merchandise and expand their reach affordably.

As part of the two-day event, participants engaged in panel discussions and toured successful local enterprises such as House Ojok and Hands of Women. Founders of these initiatives urged the younger generation to maintain patience, continuously learn new skills, and persevere through initial business hurdles.

Read more details about this initiative on Nile Post.