By Donald Kiirya
A multi-million-dollar rice seed storage facility has been commissioned at the Rhino Camp refugee settlement in Madi-Okollo district to boost food security in the region.
The facility, located in Ocea village, Rigbo sub-county, was inaugurated on Monday by Naoki Ando, the senior vice-president of the Japanese International Co-operation Agency (JICA) for Sub-Saharan Africa.
The project is part of the Promotion of Sustainable Rice Farming Development (Eco-PRiDe) initiative, one of JICA’s key development projects in both refugee and host communities, in collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
In his address during the event, Inoue Yoichi, JICA’s country representative in Uganda, praised the co-operation with UNHCR, which has been active for 10 years.
He noted that both refugee and host communities across Uganda have benefited from training in improved rice farming practices.
“I commend the landlord and the Ocea community for providing the land for this project. These facilities will significantly improve post-harvest management capacity and enhance access to quality rice seeds, improving production and productivity. This will contribute to food security and income stability for Rhino Camp residents, Madi-Okollo district and the entire West Nile region,” Yoichi said.
He emphasised that the community would bear the primary responsibility of managing and utilising the facility effectively Yoichi also highlighted JICA’s other activities in the West Nile sub-region, including refugee assistance projects such as the Project for Strengthening Resilience in Refugee Hosting Districts, agroforestry promotion, sustainable natural resource management and road improvement in refugee-hosting areas.
Ando affirmed JICA’s commitment to supporting Uganda through various projects that promote industrial development, innovation plus harmonious relationships between refugees and host communities.
Mariah Chepkemoi, the monitoring and evaluation officer for the Eco-PRiDe project, elaborated on the project’s five-year plan, running from 2024 to 2029.
She said the facility would allow farmers to develop a sustainable seed business, producing certified seeds for distribution to seed companies across the West Nile region.
“We began rice promotion in Rhino Camp in 2022, partnering with the National Agricultural Research Organisation’s regional research institute to equip farmers with modern farming techniques,” she said.
Khalid Kintu, the assistant settlement commandant for the Arua desk, noted that over 286 acres in Rhino Camp were now under rice cultivation.
“We are lobbying for more development partners to support us with tractors to assist our farmers,” he said.
Hassan Hussein Ariakah, the chairperson of Faith Rice Farmers and a landlord from the Oluba clan, said JICA’s interventions have transformed their livelihoods.
“Rice used to be a luxury, eaten only during holidays. Today, we eat it daily,” he noted, adding that the community is now part of the money economy, thanks to rice farming.
LEAD PHOTO CAPTION: Ando commissioning Ocea rice seed storage facility at Rhino Camp refugee settlement in Madi-Okollo district on Monday. Looking on is Trust Mugisha, a consultant with the Japanese International Co-operation Agency. Photo by Donald Kiirya
