By Nathan Eyagu

Soroti City — Leaders of Soroti City have pledged full support to a new agricultural initiative spearheaded by the Ateker Development Foundation (ADEFO), aimed at transforming farming from subsistence to a market-oriented and profitable enterprise across the Teso sub-region.

The commitment was made during the official launch of the Multi-Actor Agribusiness Platform Phase II (MAP II) Project at Soroti City Headquarters. The four-year project, valued at UGX 4.1 billion, will run from 1 November 2025 to 31 October 2029 and targets 3,600 smallholder farmers, with women constituting 60 percent of the direct beneficiaries. An estimated 64,800 people are expected to benefit indirectly.

Implemented by ADEFO in partnership with SOCADIDO, the project seeks to strengthen agricultural value chains by improving productivity, enhancing access to markets, and promoting collaboration among farmers, extension workers, private sector actors, and local governments.

Speaking at the launch, Soroti City Mayor Joshua Edogu said the project aligns with the realities of the local economy, where the majority of residents depend on small-scale farming for survival.

“This project addresses the full cycle of agriculture from production to consumption and links farmers to commercial activities. Agriculture is our livelihood and a source of income, and when properly supported, it can significantly improve household welfare,” Edogu said.

He emphasized that access to information and continuous farmer sensitisation will be critical to the success of the project, noting that Soroti City leadership is committed to supporting mobilisation and awareness creation.

“The wealth of a country depends on the productivity of its people. Supporting smallholder farmers to engage in the right activities is key to increasing incomes and contributing to national development,” he added.

The MAP II Project will be implemented across Katakwi, Kapelebyong, Soroti District, Soroti City, Kaberamaido, and Ngora, with two sub-counties selected in each district. In Soroti City, the project will operate in two wards per division, ensuring broad urban and peri-urban farmer participation.

According to Ben Boham Okiror, the ADEFO Project Coordinator, the initiative is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented in partnership with the German private organisation Sign of Hope e.V.

He said the project budget stands at UGX 4,116,770,010 (approximately EUR 1.09 million) and focuses on promoting inclusive, sustainable, and market-driven agriculture through a functional multi-stakeholder platform.

Okiror added that MAP II is anchored in the Teso Master Plan 2023–2028 and aligns with Uganda’s National Development Plan IV, while complementing government interventions such as the Parish Development Model and district development plans.

The Mayor of Soroti City West, Peter Patrick Emaru, who was the guest of honour, encouraged farmers to adopt better planning and management practices, drawing from his own experience in agriculture.

“Many farming households fail because of poor planning, lack of supervision, and failure to share ideas. Market-oriented agriculture requires teamwork, knowledge, and commitment,” Emaru said.

Farmers also welcomed the project, with Agado Grace, a farmer from Aloet Ward in Soroti City East, expressing optimism that the ADEFO-led initiative would build on earlier gains made under SOCADIDO-supported programmes.

Stakeholders at the launch expressed confidence that the ADEFO project will strengthen agricultural productivity, improve household incomes, and contribute to sustainable economic growth in Soroti City and the wider Teso sub-region.