Farmers in Arua City and the wider West Nile region are set to benefit from improved access to affordable, high-quality agricultural inputs, expert advisory services, and reliable farm supplies following the launch of a one-stop Halaal Farmers Center.
The facility is expected to boost agricultural productivity, increase household incomes, and restore confidence in farm inputs by addressing the widespread challenge of counterfeit seeds and supplies on the market.
Launched by the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council in partnership with Matugga Industries and Logistics Hub, the Halaal Farmers Center will offer relatively affordable, quality seeds, crop and animal health care, as well as professional guidance to farmers.
Among the inputs already available at the center are various vegetable seeds, herbal pest and disease control products, animal feeds, poultry supply, improved animal breeds, and expert advisory services tailored to farmers’ needs.
While officially launching the center at the Riyad Mosque and Business Center in Arua City on Wednesday, Sheikh Shaban Ramadan Mubaje called on residents of West Nile to embrace and utilize the facility to enhance productivity and improve livelihoods.
Sheikh Mubaje emphasized that the initiative is also aimed at restoring integrity in agriculture, noting that the circulation of fake inputs has negatively impacted both farm yields and consumer health. Meanwhile, Fiona Migadde revealed that the partnership is working closely with Muslim structures across the country to ensure farmers receive timely and quality services.
She pledged to address the persistent issue of counterfeit agricultural inputs by ensuring farmers in West Nile access genuine and reliable products. Haji Ali Muhammad Aluma, the UMSC Deputy Secretary General, who hails from the region, urged farmers to fully utilize the center to enhance their agricultural output.
The initiative has been welcomed by both Muslim and non-Muslim farmers, who say it will improve productivity and restore trust in agricultural products on the market. According to Issa Kato, the center comes at a critical time when farmers are grappling with high input costs and an influx of counterfeit products.
The Mufti, alongside the Matugga Industries and Logistics Hub team, is also expected to launch similar Halaal Farmers Centers in Koboko and Yumbe on Wednesday, before proceeding to Moyo and Adjumani districts on Thursday. URN