Stanbic Consumer Conference Warns Raw Export , Govt Rallies Behind Agro-Industrialisation

The Stanbic Consumer Conference rang bells over Uganda’s slow progress towards agro-industrialisation, as government officials, financial leaders, and policymakers gathered to confront the challenges undermining the country’s agricultural potential.

Held under the theme “Accelerating the Momentum Towards Agro-Industrialisation,” the conference zeroed in on Uganda’s ongoing dependence on exporting raw agricultural products an issue the government says continues to drain value from the country’s most critical economic sector.

Uganda’s tenfold growth strategy is clear: multiplying the country’s GDP from 50 billion dollars to 500 billion dollars by 2040, with a focus on key sectors key among them, Agro-Industrialisation.

However, it is concerning that the agro-industrialisation sector, which plays a pivotal role especially for rural communities that depend on agriculture, saw its resource envelope for the current financial year reduced to about 170 billion from 1.08 trillion shillings.

Government, at the Stanbic Consumer Conference in Kampala, stressed the urgent need to shift from exporting raw commodities to value-added products by investing in processing, packaging, and compliance with global standards.

These, they agreed, are the keys to unlocking international markets and transforming Uganda from a subsistence-based agricultural economy into a regional food powerhouse.

“We can’t export raw coffee and other agricultural products; we need to add value if we are to become the powerhouse,” Rwamirama said.

The State Minister for Animal Industry, Bright Rwamirama, added his voice to the growing call for reform, highlighting high interest rates and a lack of affordable financing as critical barriers holding farmers and agri-businesses back.

Stanbic Bank reaffirmed its commitment to supporting agro-industrialisation by promoting innovative financing models, digital tools for farmers, and collaborations aimed at building a resilient agricultural economy.