Microfinance Support Centre secures Shs 200m for irrigation project in Northern Uganda

The Microfinance Support Centre has secured funding worth Shs 200m to support the implementation of a two-year irrigation technology project for the youth in Lango and Acholi sub-regions.

The project, which will be executed in partnership with Protech Industrial Ltd, a subsidiary of Honda, aims at supporting youth engaged in agribusiness to enhance productivity and increase production.

The development of the project followed an outcry from the youth about the unpredictable weather patterns affecting their yield, creating the need for adoption of climate resilient technology to cope with the effects of climate variation and change.

As part of the activities of the project preparation phase, MSC conducted a three-week training of trainers course for 150 youth leaders in March.

The youth had been selected from 25 progressive youth farmer groups that were identified and assessed in collaboration with Goal International (Uganda), an MSC development partner working with youth farmers in Northern Uganda.

The training covered aspects of savings and loans group dynamics, agronomy, enterprise development, financial literacy and MSC’s financing model.

The youth were then assessed, and outstanding individuals from each of the groups were singled out for support to establish horticulture demonstration farms to offer learning experiences for other interested youth.

It is anticipated that the project will contribute to the advancement of MSC’s footprint in Northern Uganda through creation of employment, economic opportunities and linkages to other youth in the region.