More than 3,000 farmers in the Lake Basin region are set to benefit from a new sunflower farming initiative following a partnership between the Lake Basin Development Authority (LBDA) and GreenTec Hub Ltd aimed at promoting climate-resilient agriculture, creating jobs and increasing household incomes.
The programme, unveiled at Muhoroni Industrial Training and Technology Centre (ITTC) on Thursday, seeks to transition farmers from traditional crops such as sugarcane and maize to sunflower farming, which stakeholders say offers higher returns and a ready market.
Speaking during the launch, LBDA Director for Engineering and Infrastructure Development Eng. Jacob Akuno said sunflower had been identified as a strategic crop due to its short maturity period, profitability and suitability to the region’s climatic conditions.
“We are starting within the Lake Basin region to enable farmers to shift from the crops they have traditionally been growing and embrace value-added crops such as sunflower,” said Akuno.
He noted that the crop is well adapted to the area’s soils and weather patterns, making it a viable alternative for farmers grappling with the effects of climate change and fluctuating returns from conventional crops.
According to Eng. Akuno, the initiative will initially target more than 3,000 farmers, with plans to expand across other parts of the Lake Basin and eventually reach over 30,000 farmers.
“We are beginning with 3,000 farmers, but as adoption increases, we will roll out the programme to other regions. Our long-term target is to reach more than 30,000 farmers,” he said.
Eng. Akuno added that market access had already been secured through LBDA’s partnership with GreenTec, easing concerns about post-harvest losses and price uncertainties that often discourage farmers from venturing into new crops.
“The market is already available. In fact, our concern is not the market but whether production will be sufficient because demand for sunflower is quite high,” he said.
GreenTec Programme Manager John Kanyi said the partnership seeks to bridge existing supply gaps in the sunflower market while equipping farmers with modern agricultural technologies and extension support.
Kanyi said the programme will involve dissemination of improved farming practices and technologies to boost productivity across participating communities.
“Our target is sunflower production, but we are also looking at addressing market shortages. Together with LBDA, we will work with farmers to increase production not only in this community but in several other areas,” he said.
He revealed that buyers had already been recruited to purchase all produce from participating farmers, guaranteeing a market for the crop.
“The buyers are already on board and will purchase all the sunflower produced. The demand is coming from both food processing industries and the growing biofuel sector, where sunflower is increasingly becoming a preferred feedstock,” said Kanyi.
Under the programme, he said, farmers will receive seeds, inputs and technical guidance from agricultural experts. Participants are also being encouraged to join cooperatives and farmer groups to facilitate registration and coordination.
“We urge farmers to register and follow the guidance provided by our technical teams. Through organised groups and cooperatives, they will be able to access support and fully benefit from this initiative,” Kanyi said.
The sunflower value chain project is also expected to contribute to food security, create sustainable employment opportunities and enhance incomes among farming households across the Lake Basin region, while supporting the government’s broader agenda on climate-smart agriculture and rural economic development.
by Chris Mahandara
