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Uganda’s Minister of Agriculture, Frank Tumwebaze, signed a memorandum of understanding with UAE’s Refarm Group at COP28 for collaborative fertilizer production. The agreement aims to enhance Uganda’s access to high-quality, affordable fertilizers, promoting sustainable and climate-smart agriculture.

On Wednesday, in the presence of UAE Economy Minister Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri and Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, Uganda’s Minister of Agriculture Frank Tumwebaze signed the agreement on behalf of the government.

The 28th annual United Nations Climate Change Summit (COP28), which began on November 30 and runs through December 12, was the venue for the signing ceremony.

We have an MOU in place with an agro-industrial company in the United Arab Emirates to collaborate on the production of fertilizers in Uganda. Shortly after the agreement was signed, Tumwebaze stated on X, formerly Twitter, “Climate-smart agriculture involves appropriate use of precision farming enablers.”

Additionally, he mentioned that one way to increase productivity and production in a sustainable way is to have access to high-quality, reasonably priced fertilizers.

The agreement, according to Nabbanja, who was speaking on behalf of President Yoweri Museveni at COP28, will improve Uganda’s access to fertilizers and agricultural output.

“Today (Wednesday), I witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Government of Uganda and a UAE Refarm Group of Companies at the ongoing #COP28UAE to produce fertilizers in Uganda. Thank you @FrankTumwebazek for signing this MOU on behalf of our Government. We need more fertilizers to increase agricultural productivity,” she posted on X.

The signing ceremony was also attended by Maj. Gen. (Rtd) David Kasura-Kyomukama, permanent secretary of the agriculture ministry, and Uganda’s ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Zaake Kibedi.

On August 29, 2023, Tumwebaze honored fertilizer manufacturer Grainpulse for their innovative initiatives to support value-added local grain production in Uganda.

After guiding a high-level ministry delegation to the company’s Mukono factory, he made this statement and counseled farmers to support domestic agricultural projects in order to be successful in their farming endeavors.

An integrated agribusiness, Grainpulse offers farmers access to markets by producing crop-specific fertilizer blends and by purchasing their products, which include grains, pulses, and coffee.

“As a government, we are working to reduce the price of inputs such as seed, fertilizers, and other consumables used in the farming value chain. One of the initiatives to bring down those costs is by the Government deliberately working with investments like Grainpulse because the company helps to reduce costs of operation,” the minister said.

“In the end, this cycle directly supports the farmer through improvement in the quality of their products. Of course, this is also determined by the farmer’s level of investment in the inputs.”

Hannington Karuhanga, the board chairman of Grainpulse, disclosed during the factory tour that the company can produce 300,000 tons of fertilizer blends annually.

He also mentioned the common issue of small-holder farmers lacking logistical access to markets when they work with farmers’ groups for value creation along the value chain.