In Uganda, agriculture is a cornerstone of the economy, employing 65% of the workforce, including 63% of youth mostly in rural areas. Many youths find agriculture unprosperous, especially those engaged in subsistence farming. However, partnerships like the Transforming African Agricultural Universities to Meaningfully Contribute to Africa's Growth and Development (TAGDev)—a collaboration between the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) and the Mastercard Foundation—are changing this. Young individuals are now using entrepreneurship and digital tools to innovate traditional farming. For example, Jackline Bawaye and Esther Nakimuli founded Success Tribe, turning tomato waste into value-added products. Their efforts employ 70 people and support over 35 families. Despite these advances, challenges remain, such as obtaining certification from the Uganda National Bureau of Standards, limiting access to formal markets.
New Vision - Monday I 2025-08-18 I Page:36