More than 3,000 Lake Basin farmers will benefit from a sunflower farming programme aimed at boosting climate resilience, incomes and rural employment opportunities.
The programme has been launched through a partnership between the Lake Basin Development Authority (LBDA) and GreenTec Hub Ltd.
The initiative seeks to encourage farmers to gradually shift from traditional crops such as sugarcane and maize to sunflower farming, which stakeholders say offers better returns and a more reliable market.
Speaking during the launch at the Muhoroni Industrial Training and Technology Centre, officials said sunflower had been identified as a strategic crop because of its short growing period, strong market demand and suitability to local climatic and soil conditions.
The crop is also seen as a viable option as farmers continue to face unpredictable weather patterns linked to climate change.
Jacob Akuno, LBDA director for engineering and infrastructure development, said the project is designed to help farmers diversify production and adopt crops with higher commercial value.
Akuno said the programme would initially be implemented in selected parts of the Lake Basin before being expanded to other areas.
“We are starting within the Lake Basin so that farmers can begin transitioning from conventional crops to more profitable and value-oriented farming such as sunflower,” he said.
Many farmers in the region have struggled with declining returns from traditional food and cash crops, a situation worsened by changing weather patterns and rising production costs.
According to Akuno, sunflower presents a practical alternative because it is both adaptable and profitable under local conditions.
He said the first phase of the project would directly involve more than 3,000 farmers, with plans to expand the programme to over 30,000 farmers as adoption increases.
“Our initial target is over 3,000 farmers, but as more farmers embrace the crop, we intend to expand the project to other parts of the Lake Basin. Ultimately, we hope to reach over 30,000 farmers.”
Akuno further said market access had already been secured through the partnership between LBDA and GreenTec Hub, protecting farmers from challenges such as post-harvest losses and price fluctuations.
He said that the availability of a ready market makes sunflower farming less risky compared to crops that often face unstable prices or lack reliable buyers.
“The market is already assured. In fact, the bigger concern now is whether production will meet demand because interest in sunflower products is very high.”
John Kanyi, GreenTec programme manager, said the initiative is focused not only on production but also on strengthening the entire sunflower value chain.
He said the programme would support farmers through training, access to improved inputs and modern agricultural technologies aimed at increasing yields.
“Our goal is to boost sunflower production while also closing the existing supply gap. Together with LBDA, we will work closely with farmers to enhance productivity across different communities,” Kanyi said.
He added that agreements had already been reached with buyers who would purchase all sunflower produced by participating farmers, guaranteeing a market from the outset.
According to Kanyi, demand is being driven by both the food processing industry and the growing biofuel sector, where sunflower is increasingly being used as a key raw material.
“The buyers are already in place and will take up all the produce. Demand is strong, especially from food processors and the emerging biofuel industry, which is now relying more on sunflower as a raw material,” he said.
Farmers participating in the programme will receive certified seeds, farm inputs and continuous technical support from agricultural experts to improve productivity and crop management.
Participants are also being encouraged to join cooperatives and organised farmer groups to strengthen coordination, improve access to services and enhance market linkages.
“We are urging farmers to register and work within organised groups so that they can easily access support services and fully benefit from the programme,” Kanyi said.
The sunflower value chain initiative is expected to play a key role in improving food security, creating sustainable employment and increasing household incomes across the Lake Basin region.
It also aligns with broader efforts to promote climate-smart agriculture and stimulate rural economic growth.
