Kiryandongo District is set to benefit from a major climate-resilient agricultural investment aimed at reducing post-harvest losses and transforming seasonal farm surpluses into marketable products, district leaders have announced.
The district will receive a Shs 5.87 billion Dehydrated Products Supply Chain Development Project that will be implemented by Excel Hort Consult with funding support from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
The development was disclosed during a district stakeholders’ meeting held on February 26 at the Kiryandongo District Headquarters. The meeting brought together local government leaders, technical officers, development partners, and representatives of farmer groups to discuss the implementation and expected impact of the project.
Speaking during the meeting, Dr. Charles Lwanga Malingu, the Project Manager at Excel Hort Consult, explained that the initiative introduces a solar-assisted dehydration system intended to provide a climate-resilient and market-oriented solution to the agricultural production challenges currently faced by farmers in the district.
Dr. Malingu noted that the technology will enable farmers to process seasonal agricultural surpluses into shelf-stable and tradable food products. This approach will help reduce food wastage during peak harvest seasons while at the same time expanding farmers’ access to both regional and national markets.
“The project leverages solar-assisted dehydration as a sustainable solution that addresses climate variability while promoting inclusive local enterprise development and structured market opportunities,” he said.
The project is expected to directly benefit 1,000 smallholder farmer households drawn from both refugee settlement areas and host communities across Kiryandongo District.
Priority agricultural value chains identified for intervention include cassava, maize, sweet potatoes, okra, and cabbage. These crops are widely grown in the district but are often affected by significant post-harvest losses due to limited storage and processing facilities.
MOfficials say the intervention is expected to strengthen food security, improve household incomes, and promote economic self-reliance among both refugees and nationals living in the district.
Kiryandongo District hosts one of Uganda’s largest refugee populations, a situation that has placed increasing pressure on livelihoods, land, and agricultural systems. As a result, the project is expected to contribute significantly to promoting sustainable coexistence and shared economic opportunities between refugee and host communities.
Upon completion, the project will establish two solar-powered dehydration hubs within the district. These facilities will offer farmers affordable agro-processing services including drying, sorting, grading, milling, packaging, and storage of agricultural produce.
The hubs are also expected to serve farmers from neighboring districts, positioning Kiryandongo as a regional center for agricultural value addition and agro-processing.
Kiryandongo Chief Administrative Officer, Anselm Kyaligonza, welcomed the initiative and called on FAO and Excel Hort Consult to ensure that local stakeholders are actively involved during the implementation process.
He emphasized the importance of engaging local agro-input dealers by allowing them to supply the farm inputs required by beneficiary households. According to him, this approach will strengthen local businesses and enhance community ownership of the project.
“This will help localize the project and ensure sustainability beyond donor support,” Kyaligonza said.
The Chief Administrative Officer further pledged full technical and political support from the district authorities to ensure the successful implementation of the project.
Stakeholders who attended the meeting described the initiative as timely, particularly at a time when farmers are increasingly facing unpredictable weather patterns that negatively affect agricultural production, harvesting, and storage.
By promoting renewable energy-powered agro-processing technologies and structured market access, the initiative is expected to reduce food losses, stabilize agricultural commodity prices, and create new agribusiness opportunities along the agricultural value chain.
Once operational, the dehydration supply chain development project is anticipated to transform Kiryandongo’s agricultural sector from largely subsistence farming to a more commercial, climate-resilient, and market-driven production system, contributing to long-term rural economic growth and sustainable livelihoods.