National Seed Event

Last Wednesday (26^th February 2015), Agri Pro Focus, in collaboration with

Integrated Seed Sector Development (ISSD), Participatory Ecological Land Use Management (PELUM), Uganda Seed Trade Association(USTA),Bioversity International, USAID, Farmer’s Media, and Uganda National Famer’s Federation,  held the annual National Seed Event at the Kati Kati grounds in Kampala. The event, only the second, whose objective was to increase access and utilization of quality seed for improved livelihoods, was the perfect showcase of the various players in Uganda’s seed industry.

From nursery bed dealers, to seed growers, and even agricultural input deallers, every aspect of crop cultivation was on display. Participants were each given an opportunity to introduce their products for the public to gauge.

What you probably heard about reighning Miss Uganda’s passion for farming is no lie, Leah Kalanguka together with her runners up, Princess Tina, and Ibyara Akal, could be seen taking tours around each and every stall.

There was a host of exhibitors, among whom included, Pelum Uganda, Simlaw Seeds, Victoria Seeds, Agromax Uganda Ltd, Grow More Seeds & Chemicals Ltd, Fica Seeds, East Africa Seeds, Steel & Tube Industries.

At the stall of Agricawards Uganda, there was a call for visitors to nominate individuals and organizations for the upcoming annual agricultural awards under categories such as best extension worker, agricultural journalist, and agribusiness enterprise.

On the whole, it was a successful event, with my only disappointment being the absence of any serious banking institutions. Besides pride microfinance, whose representatives knew nothing about the agricultural credit facility, there was no other financial institution in sight to provide visitors with advice on financing options that are available.

Invited guests, participants, and visitors were treated to a business cocktail where there was an opportunity to network and create linkages.