Agriculture experts and policymakers are calling for increased investment in irrigation to boost productivity and help farmers adapt to climate change. This was during the 14th Annual National Forum on Agriculture and Food Security, where stakeholders emphasized the need for sustainable financing and modern irrigation technologies to strengthen Uganda's agricultural sector.

Agriculture remains the backbone of Uganda’s economy, employing most of the population and sustaining millions of livelihoods. According to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics, about 62 % of Ugandans are engaged in agriculture. However, the sector contributes only 26 % to the country’s GDP, highlighting the need for increased productivity and value addition.

Despite its significance, agriculture continues to face major challenges, particularly climate variability, which has affected production and food security across the country.

It is against this backdrop that stakeholders have gathered at the 14th Annual National Forum on Agriculture and Food Security organized by the Economic Policy Research Centre under the theme “Investing in Irrigation to Build a Climate-Resilient Smallholder Farmer in Uganda.” To find solutions to the existing challenges.

 Dr. Christine Arwata Alum, a Research Fellow at the Economic Policy Research Centre, presented findings from various regions of the country. She highlighted the need for improved irrigation technologies and greater adoption of modern systems to enhance agricultural productivity and climate resilience.

Speaking at the forum, Senior Water Resources Specialist at the World Bank, Harriet Nattabi, emphasized the need for innovative financing mechanisms to support farmers in accessing irrigation technologies. She also noted the importance of linking irrigation investments to reliable markets to ensure sustainable returns for farmers.

Stakeholders also shared insights on the most suitable irrigation systems for different farming communities, with discussions focusing on expanding access to affordable and efficient irrigation technologies.

The Head of the Climate Finance Unit at the Ministry of Finance, Dennis Mugaga, revealed that government continues to prioritize agriculture financing. He noted that Shs1.8 trillion was allocated to agro industrialization in the previous financial year, while the allocation has increased to Shs2.2 trillion in the upcoming budget, demonstrating government's commitment to placing agriculture at the centre of economic transformation.

Officials from the Ministry of Agriculture also called for increased domestic financing for irrigation development. Engineer Wanaluba stressed the need to grow Uganda’s internal financing capacity to ensure that the irrigation agenda remains sustainable and less vulnerable to external funding shocks.