KIRYANDONGO, Uganda — Yara East Africa and Asili Agriculture launched a new Agri-Hub Knowledge Center in Kigumba, Kiryandongo District, on Thursday, Feb. 7, 2025. The center aims to provide agronomic knowledge, demonstrate sustainable farming practices, and equip smallholder and commercial farmers with the necessary tools, skills, and inputs to enhance productivity and build resilient livelihoods.
The launch signifies a key step in fostering a nature-positive food future in Uganda, a goal shared by Yara and other agricultural stakeholders.
Government Endorsement and Focus on Soil Health
Raphael Magyezi, the Guest of Honor, commended Asili Farms for empowering women and youth, noting that their significant representation among the workforce has helped reduce unemployment in the community.
Magyezi emphasized the critical importance of soil health. “You must test the soil. You must monitor its health. You must feed it. Don’t just take away from it. Human survival depends on soil,” he stated.
He recognized Asili’s innovative approach to agribusiness, integrating technology and knowledge across the entire farming process, from soil management and seed selection to fertilizer application, storage, and sales. He encouraged farmers to visit Asili Farms to adopt these practices.
Magyezi also highlighted the power of partnerships, praising the collaboration between Yara East Africa and Asili as an example of how strategic alliances can overcome farming challenges, boost yields, and transform livelihoods. He pledged his support for the hub and urged local farmers to utilize its services.
Agri-Hub’s Role in Food Security and Innovation
The Agri-Hub is a direct response to the urgent need for agricultural innovation and resilience, particularly as Uganda confronts threats to food security, rising food costs, and low farm productivity. The facility will offer hands-on demonstrations, soil testing, farmer training, and access to quality crop nutrition products, while promoting regenerative agriculture practices that preserve soil health and support climate adaptation.
Luis Alfredo Pérez, Yara Executive Vice President for Africa and Asia, underscored the importance of multi-stakeholder partnerships in transforming Africa’s food systems and building resilient economies.
“Agriculture remains the backbone of most African economies, and Uganda is no exception,” Pérez said. “It is not only a source of food but also the main livelihood for over 70% of the population and contributes approximately 24% to Uganda’s GDP. The pathway to economic development, job creation, and improved food security lies in how well we support the farmer.”
He added that Yara believes agricultural transformation requires “intentional, long-term partnerships,” citing the Kiryandongo Agri-Hub as a prime example of public and private sector collaboration with a shared vision to empower farmers, strengthen food systems, and unlock sustainable prosperity.
Pérez reaffirmed Yara’s commitment to collaborating with partners across the agricultural value chain to help farmers adapt to climate challenges, increase productivity, and contribute to a nature-positive food future across Africa and beyond.
Yara and Asili’s Vision for Farmers
William Ng’eno, Country Manager for Yara East Africa (Kenya & Uganda), highlighted Yara’s ambition to foster a nature-positive food future by scaling knowledge sharing to enable more responsible, sustainable, and profitable food production for growers.
“Adapting to the emerging threats to food production is critical for our food security—as rightly emphasized by the government,” Ng’eno said. “With up to 54% of household expenditure going to food, the time to act is now. Our collaboration with Asili allows us to reach growers with the knowledge and tools to produce more per unit area while lowering the cost of living through catalyzing crop productivity.”
The Agri-Hub will focus on key crops like maize and soybeans, providing farmers in Northern and Western Uganda with tailored crop nutrition programs, training on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), and data-driven insights to increase yields and profitability. The initiative also supports last-mile delivery of inputs, use of digital solutions, and market linkages to bridge the yield gap and build a thriving rural economy.
Philipp Prinz, Managing Partner and Co-CEO of Asili Agriculture, emphasized the focus on empowering growers. “This Agri-Hub, launched in partnership with Yara, is a bold step toward giving farmers access to knowledge, innovation, and quality inputs,” Prinz said. “Through our integrated model that combines commercial production with a robust network of smallholder farmers, we are committed to turning science into practice and ensuring the farmer is at the center of Uganda’s food system transformation.”
The launch further reinforces the significance of strategic partnerships in bridging the gap between agricultural policy and practice. The facility is expected to facilitate joint research and development, farmer field demonstrations, and deliver value through regenerative agriculture models that improve soil structure, water retention, and long-term profitability.
The Kigumba Agri-Hub is the first of several knowledge centers planned under the partnership. Yara and Asili will continue to explore collaborative opportunities in training, sustainability, and digital agriculture to elevate Uganda’s agricultural sector and contribute meaningfully to regional food security.
