Soroti City — Leaders of Soroti City have pledged full political and technical support to a new agricultural initiative aimed at transforming farming in the Teso sub-region from subsistence-based practices to a profitable, market-oriented enterprise.
The commitment was made during the official launch of Phase II of the Multi-Actor Agribusiness Platform (MAP II) Project at Soroti City Headquarters. The four-year initiative, valued at UGX 4.1 billion, will run from November 1, 2025, to October 31, 2029, targeting 3,600 smallholder farmers, 60 percent of whom are women. An estimated 64,800 people are expected to benefit indirectly through improved household incomes, food security, and local economic growth.
The project is being implemented by the Ateker Development Foundation (ADEFO) in partnership with the Soroti Catholic Diocese Integrated Development Organisation (SOCADIDO). It seeks to strengthen agricultural value chains by improving farm productivity, enhancing access to reliable markets, and fostering collaboration among farmers, extension workers, private sector actors, financial institutions, and local governments.
Speaking at the launch, Soroti City Mayor Joshua Edogu said the project responds directly to the economic realities of the city and surrounding districts, where the majority of households rely on small-scale agriculture for their livelihoods.
“This project addresses the entire agricultural cycle—from production to consumption—and directly links farmers to commercial opportunities,” Edogu said. “Agriculture remains our main source of income, and when properly supported, it has the potential to significantly improve household welfare and transform our local economy.”
The Mayor emphasized that access to information, continuous farmer sensitisation, and effective mobilisation will be critical to the project’s success. He reaffirmed the commitment of Soroti City leadership to support community engagement and awareness creation to ensure farmers fully benefit from the initiative.
“The wealth of a country depends on the productivity of its people. Supporting smallholder farmers to engage in the right, market-driven 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 wide participation among urban and peri-urban farmers.
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 noted that the total project budget stands at UGX 4,116,770,010 (approximately EUR 1.09 million) and is designed to promote inclusive, sustainable, and market-driven agriculture through a functional multi-stakeholder platform that brings together all key actors in the agribusiness ecosystem.
Okiror further explained that MAP II is anchored in the Teso Master Plan 2023–2028 and aligns with Uganda’s National Development Plan IV (NDP IV). The project also complements ongoing government interventions, including the Parish Development Model (PDM) and district-level development plans.
The Mayor of Soroti City West, Peter Patrick Emaru, who served as the guest of honour, urged farmers to embrace better planning, supervision, and knowledge-sharing practices, drawing on his own experience in agriculture.
“Many farming households fail due to poor planning, weak supervision, and a lack of collaboration,” Emaru said. “Market-oriented agriculture requires teamwork, shared learning, and strong commitment if farmers are to succeed.”
Farmers in attendance welcomed the initiative with optimism. Agado Grace, a farmer from Aloet Ward in Soroti City East, said the project is expected to build on gains achieved under previous SOCADIDO-supported programmes.
“We believe this project will strengthen our skills, improve access to markets, and increase our incomes as farmers,” she said.
Stakeholders at the launch expressed confidence that the ADEFO-led MAP II Project will significantly enhance agricultural productivity, improve household incomes, and contribute to sustainable economic growth in Soroti City and across the wider Teso sub-region.
