Investors asked to focus on agriculture

By Prossy Nandudu

The Government has asked investors to stop branding the agricultural sector as a risky area to invest in.

The call was made by Bright Rwamirama the minister of state for animal husbandry, while officiating at a workshop on agricultural risk management at the Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala.

He said many investors have been avoiding the sector which employs the largest population of Ugandans, claiming it is risky thus cannot easily give back returns.

He admitted that sometimes there may be production risks which may be taken for granted until calamity strikes. He said planning beforehand would improve the situation.

“We need to do business differently by planning ahead and identifying the kind of risks we face and integrate tools to manage agricultural risks and uncertainties,” added Rwamirama.

The workshop organised by the Ministry of Agriculture and funded by African Union through NEPAD is aimed at integrating price and food security risk management policies.

The NEPAD principal programme officer, Mariam Soumare said that for a country to realise profits from the agriculture sector there is need to manage risks.