Entrepreneurs have been urged to adopt value addition practices as a gateway to tap into the lucrative trade opportunities locally and across the region.
The call was made during the climax of the four (4) day Agri SME Skills Development Program by facilitated Post Bank Uganda in partnership with the Federation of Small and Medium Enterprises (FSME) at Uganda Industrial Research Institute (UIRI) in Nakawa, Kampala.
”Launched in 2022, the Agri SME Skills Development Program forms part of Post Bank Uganda’s Corporate Social Investment (CSI) under its Financial Literacy pillar, aimed at empowering Ugandans so that they can participate in the social economic activities that will boost the country’s development.” Said Mr. Martin Lukyamuzi, PostBank Uganda Regional Head of Distribution-Greater Kampala,
“Initially the program targeted to train to over 300 beneficiaries countrywide, but we have surpassed the number and managed to train over 530 participants.” He added.
According to him, the sessions involve a 3-day technical training where the farmers or traders get hands-on learning, gaining knowledge on the entire process, proper post-harvest handling to maintain quality, and good manufacturing practices and an overall approach to value addition on their produce with the required quality so that they can explore regional trade opportunities.
He emphasized that ”Financial literacy is the highlight of the final training which is guided by PostBank Uganda representatives.”
Participants have obtained skills on how to manage their finances properly and guided on the different products offered by the bank to support them on their journey as they grow and prosper, which aligns with the bank’s purposes of fostering prosperity for Ugandans.
“At PostBank, we are committed to fostering prosperity for Ugandans. By upskilling entrepreneurs in the different economic sectors like agriculture, tourism, manufacturing among others, we are enabling these businesses to boost their operations, which will enable them to produce products and services that meet local and international market standards, improving their market base and tapping into the enormous trade opportunities within the region,” Lukyamuzi concluded.
In his remarks, John Walugembe Kakungulu, the Federation of Small and Medium enterprise Uganda (FSME), Executive Director, commended PostBank Uganda for fronting initiatives that are directed towards supporting businesses to realize their full potential.
He said ”Through forums like the Agri SME Skills Development Program, entrepreneurs gain skills that not only help them manage their finances, but guide them on how best to adopt value addition so that they can attain the business acumen required for them to thrive in a completive and dynamic business environment within Uganda and other international trade markets.”
The Agri SME Skills Development Program has been able reach out to entrepreneurs across the country, including Soroti District where farmers were skilled in millet processing, in Fort Portal where agro-tourism best practices were shared, cassava processing and value addition in Arua District and the climax of the 2024 cohort being Coffee traders in Kampala.
