Entrepreneurs have been advised 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-day Agri SME Skills Development Program facilitated by Post Bank Uganda in partnership with the Federation of Small and Medium Enterprises (FSME) at the Uganda Industrial Research Institute (UIRI) in Nakawa, Kampala which benefited over 530 small entrepreneurs.
The Agri SME Skills Development Program forms part of Post Bank’s Corporate Social Investment (CSI) under its financial literacy pillar, aimed at empowering Ugandans so that they can participate in socio-economic activities that will boost the country’s development.
During his remarks at the climax of the training, the Post Bank Head of Distribution-Greater Kampala, Martin Lukyamuzi said that initially the program targeted to train over 300 beneficiaries countrywide, but they have surpassed the number and managed to train over 530 participants in the 2024 cohort.
Lukyamuzi adds that the sessions involve a 3-day technical training where 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 has disclosed that in Buganda region they have trained over 60 small entrepreneurs in coffee because today the coffee business is earning a lot of money.
Meanwhile, the Executive Director Federation Small and Medium sized Enterprises (FSME), John Walugembe recognized Post Bank Uganda for fronting initiatives that are directed towards supporting businesses to realize their full potential through forums like the Agri SME Skills Development Program where businesses 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.
He calls upon the Government to borrow a leaf from Post Bank to prioritize funding of small entrepreneurs to ensure that they create more jobs for Ugandans especially the youths.
By Charles Katabalwa
24 Dec 2024
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