By Monica MUEMA
AFEX, Africa’s commodities exchange and commodities market player, has announced its expansion into Uganda, seven months after it first entered the East African continent.
It now targets to replicate its successes in Kenya and Nigeria.
The new move will also see farmers in Uganda benefit from AFEX’s revolutionary tech-enabled services for agricultural producers.
In its first year of operations, AFEX Uganda aims to reach 10,000 farmers and aggregate 15,000 metric tons of commodities, while extending its aggregation, storage, and financial inclusion services to Ugandan farmers and processors.
The firm will be implementing its scalable model that combines advanced technology and infrastructure with a unique understanding of Africa’s food systems and local markets to replicate its successes in Nigeria and Kenya to Uganda.
Working closely with local and international partners, the operation will focus on maize, sorghum, soybeans, barley, and coffee, with maize being the initial priority.
According to the International Trade Administration, Uganda is lacking the necessary infrastructure in storage, credit, and access to markets to sustain food production. To begin tackling these issues, AFEX Uganda has established warehouses in Bulambuli and Kapchorwa districts in Eastern Uganda, and in the Lira district of Northern Uganda.
Under the leadership of Abdul-Hafeez Odusanya, Managing Director, AFEX Uganda, the entity will be introducing its range of solutions including its technology platform, WorkBench, to enable farmers to participate in market opportunities and scale their operations.
Starting with a network of over 1500 farmers, AFEX Uganda will be addressing the following problems:
Reducing post-harvest losses by providing storage facilities
Providing access to loans for farmers to purchase quality farming inputs including agrochemicals, fertilizer, and seedlings
Provision of advisory and extension services to tackle poor agricultural practices and post-harvest handling practices.
Access to markets for smallholder farmers, with transparent prices
High-quality and traceable supply of food and feed-grade commodities to processors
Abdul-Hafeez Odusanya, Managing Director, and AFEX Uganda expressed excitement about the new opportunity:
“I’m thrilled to be leading the next stage of growth for AFEX in East Africa and eager to see how Uganda’s success contributes to AFEX’s portfolio of innovative food system interventions.
I’m confident AFEX Uganda will contribute massively to building an inclusive and efficient market system, giving Ugandan farmers the support and infrastructure they need to improve efficiency and access bigger markets,” he revealed.
Often referred to as Africa’s ‘bread basket,’ Uganda has one of the most dynamic commodities markets with significant growth potential, and a positive government interest in commercializing agriculture through collaboration with private sector players.
In the first quarter of 2022, agriculture accounted for 24% of the country’s GDP. In addition, the government has ratified the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCTA) and the East African Community Customs Union, providing access to the international market.
Since inception, AFEX’s focus has been to establish a strong foothold across Africa. AFEX Uganda is the latest in a series of planned expansions to 10 African countries over the next 5 years. In restructuring for the future and to provide efficiency and focus on the regions, AFEX has announced new appointments and internal promotions among its leadership.
Appointed in October 2022, Sanne Steemers is now President, Rest of Africa, overseeing the expansion across the continent; Akinyinka David Akintunde (previously Chief Operating Officer) has become President, AFEX Nigeria, responsible for all operations in the West African country; and CEO Ayodeji Balogun has been appointed Group CEO, heading all entities globally.
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