Original story and photos by Dan Bazira, Senior IT & Communications Coordinator for Heifer International's Uganda Program
The Ugandan National Agricultural and Trade show began in 1993 and is organized by the Uganda National Farmers' Federation. This event is a platform for displaying and identifying innovations by local and foreign organizations to improve technologies for better production and marketing. It is also an opportunity for farmers to learn better methods of production an innovations that can boost agricultural productivity for earning income.
The week-long 19th Annual National Agricultural and Trade Show began on July 18 with the theme of "Promoting Agricultural Commercialization to Access the East African Common Market." It attracted exhibitors from both local and international companies. The foreign companies were from Israel, Egypt, Brazil, Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa. The show was aimed at helping Ugandans adopt modern methods of farming to address the food demands of a rapidly growing population and to address the needs of the East African market.
Heifer International's Uganda program was one of the major exhibitors and has been accredited as having displayed the most innovative products that suit the needs of the rural communities. "Easy-to-implement and well-planned programs can help alleviate hunger and poverty while preserving the country's natural resources among the communities, an agenda that Heifer International has advanced in Uganda," said Moses Byaruhanga, Private Personal Secretary (in charge of Political Affairs) to the President of Uganda, during his visit to the Heifer International exhibition stall.
Heifer displayed different forms of organic farming techniques, technology methods promoted under the Uganda Domestic Biogas Project, establishment of demonstration plots, as well as best practices in the dairy value chain promoted under the East Africa Dairy Development Project. Also displayed were improved technologies with an emphasis of the meeting standards and needs of the wider East African market.
Heifer Uganda has continued to be a center for learning, educating Ugandans on the best practices that can be adopted to end hunger, poverty and care for the Earth.
The Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries said, "Heifer International Uganda has continued to venture into piloting new and innovative initiatives by practically testing the validity of promising premises, and in documenting and proactively sharing lessons learned with others. This method has led to the adoption of their innovations. To this, I commend Heifer International for being a leading program in advancing sustainable agricultural innovations in our communities in Uganda."
