Henry Opolot, Commissioner for Agricultural Extension and Skills Management at the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), emphasized the importance of enhancing communication and information sharing about financial products available to support farmers during the launch of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) Project.

This USD 15.1 million initiative, backed by the Green Climate Fund and implemented by the Ministry of Finance and MAAIF, aims to boost farmers' incomes by improving post-harvest management. It focuses on modern technologies for drying, storing, and transporting produce to minimize losses.

Opolot highlighted that poor packaging and ineffective communication channels often hinder the dissemination of information about agricultural credit facilities, leaving even extension workers unaware of these resources. He specifically pointed out the Agricultural Credit Facility (ACF), noting that its low-interest loans are not adequately publicized by some banks.

Dennis Mugagga from the Climate Finance Unit at the Ministry of Finance shared strategies like the National Green Taxonomy to address climate change while generating income. He stressed that financial institutions should integrate climate action into their core mandates, as many non-performing loans are linked to climate-related issues.

David Wazemba, AGRA's Country Director, revealed that the project will initially target Eastern Uganda, including Busoga, Bugisu, and Sebei regions, due to their trade connections with Kenya and South Sudan and significant agricultural losses. The project aims to directly benefit 400,000 farmers and will expand its coverage over time.

Wazemba added that farmers will access funds through commercial banks using existing structures, with AGRA collaborating with insurance companies to offer subsidized rates.