In a landmark move to strengthen Uganda’s agricultural sector, Yara East Africa Limited, a leading crop nutrition company, has partnered with Asili Agriculture to launch a state-of-the-art Agri-Hub Knowledge Centre in Kigumba, Kiryandongo District.
The new centre is designed to serve as a transformative platform for farmers, offering practical training in sustainable farming practices, soil health management, and access to high-quality inputs and innovative technologies. It aims to empower both smallholder and commercial farmers to improve productivity, boost resilience, and build sustainable livelihoods.
Speaking at the launch event, Minister for Local Government Raphael Magyezi applauded Asili Agriculture for its efforts in promoting youth and women employment, noting that the majority of workers at Asili are young people and women—a contribution that has helped reduce unemployment in the region.
Magyezi also stressed the critical importance of soil health in ensuring food security and urged farmers to embrace modern practices.
“You must test your soil, monitor its health, and feed it responsibly. Our very survival depends on the health of our soil,” he said.
He lauded the partnership between Yara and Asili as a model for effective collaboration, encouraging farmers to learn from the Agri-Hub and adopt its innovative solutions for their benefit.
The centre arrives at a critical time when Uganda is grappling with rising food prices, low agricultural productivity, and climate-related risks. It will offer hands-on farmer training, soil testing services, crop demonstrations, and promote regenerative agriculture techniques that improve soil fertility, water conservation, and long-term farm profitability.
Luis Alfredo Pérez, Executive Vice President for Africa and Asia at Yara International, emphasized that agriculture remains the cornerstone of Uganda’s economy, contributing roughly 24% of GDP and supporting over 70% of the population. He highlighted the necessity of partnerships to drive agricultural transformation.
“Agriculture cannot transform in isolation. It requires intentional, long-term partnerships. This Agri-Hub is a practical example of how public and private actors can come together to empower farmers, strengthen food systems, and unlock sustainable prosperity,” Pérez noted.
Yara East Africa’s Country Manager for Kenya and Uganda, William Ng’eno, reinforced the company’s commitment to promoting sustainable and profitable farming through knowledge-sharing and innovation.
“Our ambition is to grow a nature-positive food future by scaling farmer education and equipping growers with tools to produce more—responsibly and sustainably,” Ng’eno said.
The Agri-Hub will primarily focus on key crops such as maize and soybeans, with a specific focus on Northern and Western Uganda. It will provide farmers with tailored crop nutrition programs, training on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), digital farming solutions, last-mile input delivery, and market linkages to improve profitability and food security.
Philipp Prinz, Managing Partner and Co-CEO of Asili Agriculture, said the partnership reflects a shared vision to place farmers at the heart of Uganda’s agricultural transformation.
“Sustainable agricultural transformation starts with empowering farmers. This Agri-Hub is a bold step toward equipping them with the knowledge and tools they need to thrive,” he said.
The centre will also facilitate research collaborations, farmer field demonstrations, and the scaling of regenerative agriculture models aimed at improving soil health, productivity, and rural incomes.
The Kigumba Agri-Hub is the first in a series of planned centres under the Yara–Asili partnership, with more expected to follow across Uganda in the coming years.
