(ARUA, UGANDA) – Growing food demand linked to South Sudan is helping drive a new agribusiness programme in Uganda’s West Nile region, where hundreds of young people are set to benefit from a major grant aimed at supplying fast expanding regional markets.
The programme will be supported by a grant of Shs1.7 billion, equivalent to about US$447,000, to help young people turn rising food demand into income generating agribusinesses. The initiative is expected to strengthen cross border food supply chains that serve refugee settlements and neighbouring markets, including South Sudan.
West Nile has seen rapid population growth in recent years, partly due to large refugee settlements from South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. This has increased demand for food and agricultural products, creating new commercial opportunities for local producers.
Cordaid Uganda said a detailed market assessment was carried out before the programme was launched. The study involved consultations with young people, farmers, traders, teachers and local leaders across the region.
According to Cordaid Uganda Agri Food Systems Manager Lincoln Opio, the assessment confirmed that refugee settlements and cross border trade with South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo are key drivers of food consumption in West Nile. He said the findings showed strong potential for youth led agribusiness if young people receive the right skills, support and access to resources.
Estimates by the International Finance Corporation indicate that households in West Nile spend about US$246 million each year on food. A significant share of this demand is linked to regional trade flows serving South Sudan, highlighting the scale of the market available to organised producers.
The assessment also identified long standing barriers that have limited youth participation in agriculture. These include limited start up capital, difficulty accessing land especially for women, weak technical skills, poor access to quality inputs, inadequate road networks and limited storage facilities. These challenges shaped the design of the agribusiness incubation programme.
Under the programme, young people are trained through vocational institutions and supported to move from theory into practical business activity. Participants gain access to land and farming inputs within their institutions, work under experienced mentors and receive help to identify buyers and markets for their produce.
The initiative aims to help young people view farming as a commercial activity rather than subsistence work, with a focus on income generation and market demand linked to regional trade.
The agribusiness incubation programme is implemented by Cordaid Uganda in partnership with Netherlands based organisations CINOP and Rikolto. It forms part of the Systemic Approach to Strengthening Agribusiness Vocational Education and Training project, funded through the European Union Erasmus Plus programme.
The project is being rolled out in three vocational institutions in the West Nile region:
| Institution | Location |
|---|---|
| Pride Agricultural and Technical Institute | Arua |
| Koboko Technical Institute | Koboko |
| Lodonga Polytechnic | Yumbe District |
CINOP representative Willem Kleinendorst said the programme is changing how young people see agriculture. Many participants now identify as agribusiness operators, focusing on quality, market needs and profitability rather than basic food production.
The market assessment identified four value chains with strong demand and relatively short production cycles. These include horticulture, poultry, cassava processing and maize aggregation.
Vegetables such as tomatoes, onions, cabbages and leafy greens mature quickly and attract higher prices, particularly during dry seasons when supply is tight. Poultry products remain under supplied in the region, while cassava is being processed into flour and chips. Maize aggregation allows producers to store grain and sell when prices improve.
Project partners say these value chains allow young people to start small and scale up gradually, while supplying markets linked to South Sudan and surrounding areas.
Koboko Technical Institute Principal Okuonzi Gilbert said the training has introduced new thinking to vocational education, particularly around product design, market analysis and value addition.