By Nelson Mandela Muhoozi
A Kampala-based firm in agribusiness has set up a hub to skill small scale farmers in agribusiness.
The hub provides access to an e-learning platform dubbed ‘SOMA’, where farmers will log in and have comprehensive and interactive trainings in areas including; climate smart farming, financial literacy, leadership and governance for SMEs in agribusiness, among others.
Josephine Mukumbya, Executive Director, Agribusiness Development Centre revealed that the program will attract agribusinesses and entrepreneurs in the agriculture sector who need knowledge in farming and agribusiness.
“This initiative aims to transform agricultural education and empower individuals with the knowledge and skills required to thrive in the ever-evolving agribusiness sector,” Mukumbya said.
She added, “The hub offers access to a wide range of courses covering various aspects of agribusiness, including financial literacy for farmers and managers, governance and leadership, gender and climate and more.”
Mukumbya was speaking during the launch of the Hub at the offices of Agribusiness Development Centre in Nakasero, Kampala.
Kobugabe Tina of Mogen Breeze Limited, an SME producing herbal drinks, said they face lots of gaps in their organizations that need to be closed, including poor governance, streamlined financial systems, among others.
“Most farmer-based organizations lack skills when it comes to financial accounting, proper book keeping, and proposal writing for financing and how to integrate into the digital trends. I am a beneficiary and I call upon especially women-led initiatives to take advantage of this training opportunity,” she said.
According to the project manager, Ronald Ssekajja, learners can choose from a diverse catalog to acquire specialised knowledge tailored to their interests and goals.
“We are now part of the NSSF Hi Innovator Partnership hubs and shall therefore extend entrepreneurial support to the entrepreneurs that make us their choice hub within our new facility,” Ssekajja said.
Through the SOMA platform, Ssekajja said that about 13,000 farmers and entrepreneurs in the agriculture sector have been trained. He said the hub is able to accommodate 40 people per day for training at the Kampala based hub.
“We have invested over $500,000 in the hub. We are offering free training for all those interested. Our objective is to have sector of self-sufficient famers,” he said.
What is SOMA?
SOMA utilizes interactive and immersive learning techniques, including videos, quizzes, and practical exercises.
These features ensure an engaging and impactful learning experience, allowing learners to acquire practical skills and apply them in real-world scenarios.
The platform incorporates tracking mechanisms to monitor learners’ progress throughout their courses.
Learners will receive certificates upon successful completion of the courses, validating their newly acquired skills and knowledge.
According to Ssekajja, interested famers and entrepreneurs in the agribusiness can make request to be trained through logging into the SOMA digital platform.
