Yara East Africa recently held a pivotal training session at the Eureka Hotel in Kampala, designed to enhance the expertise of fertilizer inspectors from Uganda’s Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries (MAAIF). This initiative is part of Yara’s broader commitment to lead a transformation toward a climate-neutral, regenerative, and prosperous food system. Through this training, Yara aims to equip government officials with in-depth knowledge of regenerative agriculture solutions and empower them to uphold quality standards in Uganda’s agricultural inputs market.
The program covered crucial topics such as protecting farmers from counterfeit fertilizers, understanding regulatory requirements, and supporting sustainable farming practices. This collaboration underscores Yara’s vision of a climate-neutral future achieved through comprehensive partnerships, advocating a nature-positive approach that balances productivity with responsible resource use.
“Today’s engagement represents a meaningful step forward in ensuring that fertilizers reaching farmers across Uganda are safe, reliable, and of high quality,” remarked William Ng’eno, Country Manager of Yara East Africa. “Our partnership with the Ugandan government allows us to share essential knowledge and collaborate on a national scale to improve agricultural yields. By strengthening quality control, we aim to address the issue of counterfeit products, a serious challenge that affects both our brand integrity and farmers’ livelihoods. Together, we are building a secure, productive agricultural sector for Uganda.”
This training arrives as Uganda’s Ministry of Agriculture pursues a bold vision of a competitive, profitable, and sustainable agricultural industry. Alex Otut, Senior Agriculture Inspector for Fertilizer Testing at MAAIF, highlighted the importance of capacity-building initiatives, stating, “Our focus is now on building competitiveness locally, and developing skilled, competent workers is central to this goal. Today’s engagement with Yara has been instrumental in equipping our colleagues to communicate authoritatively on fertilizers, reinforcing our commitment to sustainable agriculture.”
John Mwanja, Assistant Commissioner for Agrochemicals, Crop Inspection, and Certification at MAAIF, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the ministry’s role in regulating the quality of agricultural inputs, including fertilizers, to ensure farmers access high-standard products. “Our laboratory capabilities enable us to verify market standards, and we commend Yara for consistently meeting these benchmarks. This partnership empowers farmers with the knowledge they need to apply fertilizers effectively, maximizing their benefits,” Mwanja noted.
With a strong local presence, Yara Uganda works alongside farmers, distributors, and stockists to bridge knowledge gaps in the agricultural community. “One significant challenge we face is the knowledge gap among farmers, which we address through dedicated teams and approximately 100 demonstration farms across the country. These sites allow farmers to witness firsthand the impact of our products and new agricultural techniques,” shared John Rotich, Commercial Manager of Yara Uganda.
Yara plays a vital role in Uganda’s agricultural landscape, supplying around 30,000 metric tons of fertilizers annually for key crops like maize, coffee, horticulture, and sugarcane. Through a network of 65 national distributors and 650 stockists, Yara ensures high-quality fertilizers are accessible even in remote areas.
As Yara strengthens its collaborations, it remains steadfast in its commitment to safe, reliable fertilizer solutions. By prioritizing capacity-building, quality control, and climate-friendly farming practices, Yara is reinforcing Uganda’s agricultural sector and paving the way for a resilient, sustainable future.
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