With key platform launched, women in agribusiness eager for empowerment

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When the Women in Agribusiness Week is held this November, the focus will be on converging women in agribusiness from across Africa to network and work out solutions in the sector.

Launched last Thursday at City Hall in Kampala, it is seen as a platform that will see stakeholders mobilise their colleagues, identify their businesses and promote them on the global market.

This is under their umbrella organisation, Guzakuza, which focuses on inspiring women in agribusiness and agritech across Africa.

Ghanaian Nana Adjoa Sifa, the president and founder of Guzakuza, made a clarion call for spaces that can help women succeed in agribusiness.

The social entrepreneur and advocate for women's economic empowerment said Ugandan women who are in the agribusiness chain grapple with various challenges, but that through Guzakuza, they will be mobilised and mentored on how to protect their businesses.

“Our goal is to target the rural and peri-urban areas, which have businesswomen who are established in the businesses,” she said.

Mineral development state minister Sarah Achieng Opendi said the majority of Uganda's population engaged in agriculture are women (over 70 percent).

Sarah Opendi, the chairperson Uganda Women's Parliamentary Association speaking as Nana Adjoa Sifa, the Director Guzakuza looks on during the launch of Women in Agribusiness Week 2025 at the KCCA Mayor's parlour on 22nd May 2025. (Photo by Nicholas Oneal)

She said the government has supported some women farmers with small tractors and irrigation schemes in some districts to enable them to manage their businesses.

'Successful model farmers'

Opendi, who is also the Woman MP for Tororo district, also revealed that the government supports women through the African Development Bank (ADB) with farmer loans, and through other grants, although the numbers are still low.

“There is no dedicated bank to support women."

She encouraged women to engage in government programmes like Emyooga, Parish Development Model (PDM) and GROW, a project aimed at promoting women's economic empowerment and reducing poverty.

Other programmes include the Uganda Climate Smart Agricultural Transformation Project, which is intended to provide skills for women in agriculture.

“With the coming into force of the National Development Plan 4, government will support more women in business, but also small-scale funds have been provided through Emyooga and PDM," said Opendi.

“We have seen successful model farmers engaged in agriculture, but most importantly, utilise government programmes like certificate of customary ownership."

The certificate of ownership can be used as collateral to get credit and engage in agriculture.

“Once you engage in agriculture, you can’t go wrong. Uganda is a food basket," Opendi told fellow women.

Florence Nassanga Musoke, the chairperson of the Inter-Faith Women of Uganda, urged women who own registered businesses and young enterprises to be a part of November's event.