Uganda–China–FAO South–South Cooperation Partnership Sets New Benchmark in Agrifood Transformation as Phase III Ends
By our Reporter
Kampala, Uganda, 16 April 2026 — The Government of Uganda, the People’s Republic of China, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) have celebrated the successful completion of Phase III of the FAO–China–Uganda South–South Cooperation (SSC) project, marking a significant milestone in a long-standing partnership aimed at transforming agrifood systems and improving rural livelihoods.
The project was implemented with financial support of USD 3 million from the Chinese government and USD 1.6 million from the Government of Uganda, as part of a USD 9.6 million Unilateral Trust Fund established for the initiative. Over the past three years, it has directly impacted more than 100,000 farmers, underscoring the value of peer-to-peer technical exchange as a driver of rural prosperity.
Implemented from June 2022 to May 2026, the project officially closed during a high-level workshop in Kampala.
The event was presided over by Agriculture Minister Frank Tumwebaze, and highlighted a historic shift in development financing, with Uganda becoming the first developing nation to co-finance such a project through a Unilateral Trust Fund, signaling a new era of national ownership in international partnerships.
“The South–South Cooperation Project stands as a flagship of collaboration, demonstrating how countries of the global South can share knowledge and technology to transform agrifood systems for mutual benefit. Its achievements are a testament to the strong and mutually beneficial partnership between Uganda and China,” said Minister Tumwebaze.
He added that the project directly supports Uganda’s priorities on agro-industrialisation, food security and rural livelihoods by strengthening key value chains and opening new market opportunities for farmers.
Over the past four years, the initiative has demonstrated the power of practical cooperation—connecting expertise, innovation and local knowledge to deliver tangible results for farming communities.
From high-yield rice and resilient foxtail millet varieties to improved livestock breeds and integrated rice–fish farming systems, the project has introduced solutions already transforming how farmers produce, adapt and earn, supported by on-site technical assistance from Chinese experts dispatched by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China.
More than 200 crop varieties were introduced and tested, with four—one hybrid rice and three foxtail millet varieties—now officially released for commercial production. At demonstration sites, hybrid rice yields reached up to 6.9 tonnes per hectare, while foxtail millet yielded up to 4.2 tonnes per hectare, offering farmers more reliable and profitable options.
Equally significant has been the project’s investment in human capacity. Through hands-on training, technical exchanges and dissemination of practical guides, farmers, extension workers and institutions have strengthened their ability to sustain and scale these innovations.
Speaking at the event, FAO South-South and Triangular Cooperation Division Director Anping Ye described the Uganda partnership as a global model of effective SSC, anchored in strong national leadership, mutual respect and shared commitment.
Uganda’s financial contribution to Phase III through the Unilateral Trust Fund was highlighted as historic, making it the first developing country to co-finance a project under the FAO–China SSC Programme.
“This partnership demonstrates what is possible when countries share knowledge as equals. The results we celebrate belong to the farmers who have embraced these technologies and Uganda’s commitment to co-financing the project,” Ye said.
The concluding workshop also provided a platform for farmers, district leaders and stakeholders to showcase innovations, exchange experiences and highlight the project’s real-world impact at community level.
Guo Libin, Deputy Director-General of the Foreign Economic Cooperation Centre (FEEC) under China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, said SSC strengthens national capacity, promotes knowledge sharing and delivers mutual benefits. He urged partners to build on lessons learned and sustain momentum through continued collaboration.
Meanwhile, Fan Xuecheng, Chargé d’Affaires ad Interim at the Chinese Embassy in Uganda, said the partnership represents a global model of successful South–South cooperation, demonstrating how collaboration among developing countries can address food security, poverty reduction and inclusive growth.
United Nations Resident Coordinator Leonard Zulu emphasised the importance of partnerships built on equality.
“We have seen how technical cooperation, when embedded in national institutions and aligned with local realities, can strengthen the foundations of transformation—not just increasing productivity, but enabling farmers, extension systems and value chains to function more effectively and sustainably,” he said.
*Scaling for Sustainability*
While the project has officially concluded, partners emphasised that this marks a transition to scale rather than an endpoint. Focus will now shift to embedding proven SSC technologies into Uganda’s national extension system, strengthening value chains and private sector engagement to ensure reliable markets, and establishing innovation hubs to sustain research, knowledge exchange and collaboration between Uganda and China.
“Our task now is to ensure these results endure—by institutionalising what works and enabling farmers and national systems to carry this momentum forward and scale it across the country,” said Ezana Kassa, FAO Representative in Uganda.
The FAO–China–Uganda SSC Project is a flagship of the FAO–China South–South Cooperation Programme, facilitating the transfer of Chinese agricultural expertise and technology to support Uganda’s national development goals and transformation of agrifood systems.
