By Herbert Musoke
The Government of Uganda has signed a deal with the Netherlands to promote agriculture as a way of increasing household income and fostering economic development.
The agreement was signed by the state minister for fisheries Hellen Adoa and the Minister of Foreign Trade and Development from the Netherlands, H.E. Reinette Klever who was accompanied by the ambassador of the Netherlands to Uganda, H.E Frederieke Quispel on Wednesday, October 16.
They also visited the new fish feed factory in Jinja owned by De Heus, a Dutch company. The project costing over €20m will open in mid-2025. On The same occasion, they launched the expansion of the Yalelo cage fish farm in Njeru.
Hon. Adoa thanked the Kingdom of the Netherlands for investing in Uganda’s agricultural sector which she said supports the growth and development of the country’s economy.
She says that De Hues fish feed factory will help reduce the pressure on Lake Victoria where farmers have been practising open fish catch which has depleted the lake.
She also said that farmers are facing the challenge of expensive fish feeds.
“Fish export comes second to coffee yet the feed has been very expensive making it hard for the farmers to expand their farms. With the availability of quality yet affordable feed, household income and living standards will improve,” she said.
LEAD PHOTO CAPTION: Hon. Hellen Adoa, the state minister for fisheries and Netherlands minister H.E. Reinette Klever siging the work relationship agreement. Photos by Herbert Musoke
