MAAIF showcases practical solutions farmers can take home

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As the 10th Harvest Money Expo kicked off Friday, one message stood out clearly from the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF)’s pavilion: agriculture must move from subsistence to value-driven business.

Organised by the Vision Group, the expo is supported by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, ENGSOL, Tunga Nutrition, aBi, Pearl Bank, and Uganda Development Corporation. Other sponsors are Heifer International, Roke Telecom, and the Uganda Revenue Authority, this year’s expo is designed not just to exhibit products, but to teach.

Speaking on behalf of the ministry, Consolata Acayo, the Assistant Commissioner for Communications at MAAIF, said the ministry’s presence at the expo is about giving farmers practical knowledge, technologies and products they can immediately apply.

Inside the ministry’s agriculture village, visitors are welcomed by a full range of innovations drawn from different technical departments and research institutions. From mechanisation to value addition, the focus is on showing farmers complete value chains rather than isolated products.

One of the most attractive sections is mechanisation for small-scale farmers. Here, irrigation equipment, chaff cutters, grass shredders and other affordable machines are displayed. These tools are meant to reduce manual labour and increase efficiency. According to Acayo, many farmers still believe mechanisation is only for large farms, yet smallholders can also benefit from simple, cost-effective equipment.

Coffee is another major highlight. Farmers are guided from certified seedlings to harvesting, processing and finally consumption. At the stand, brewed coffee is served to demonstrate the importance of value addition.

Instead of selling raw beans at low prices, farmers are encouraged to roast, grind and package coffee to earn more income. The lesson is clear: value addition increases profits. The oil seeds section is equally educational. Exhibitors showcase sunflower, soya bean and other oil crops alongside finished products such as cooking oil and soap.

By connecting seeds to supermarket shelves, farmers can understand how processing multiplies income opportunities. The demonstration encourages them to think beyond primary production.

Export-oriented farming is also emphasised through the promotion of Hass avocado seedlings. Known for high oil content and longer shelf life, the variety is ideal for international markets. Farmers are being advised to invest in quality planting materials to meet export standards and increase Uganda’s competitiveness.

Perhaps the most surprising displays are innovations turning agricultural waste into wealth. Banana stems, often discarded after harvest, are now processed into fibre used for weaving products, including hair extensions.

Research teams are also demonstrating how animal waste can be converted into liquid soap and shampoo. These exhibits challenge farmers to see every by-product as a potential business.

Beyond products, the ministry has set up plant clinics where farmers can bring diseased crop samples for diagnosis and expert advice. Information materials are freely distributed, reinforcing the Ministry’s commitment to continuous sensitisation. Acayo emphasised that the expo, which runs until Sunday, is part of an ongoing outreach strategy.

Through agricultural shows, World Food Day events and collaboration with local government production departments, the Ministry continues to educate farmers across the country.

Her message to Ugandans is simple, visit the expo, learn, buy quality inputs and build networks. “When the farmer succeeds, the nation succeeds”, she said.

As Harvest Money Expo celebrates a decade of impact, its 10th edition proves that agriculture in Uganda is no longer just about growing crops, it is about innovation, processing and profitable agribusiness.