Report

Business skills empowerment program through incubation and mentorship for selected pig agripreneurs in Masaka and Mukono districts: process, outcomes and lessons

Abstract

The agripreneur business incubation/acceleration program, started in 2023 in Uganda to address challenges associated with market inefficiencies including weak linkages between pig farmers, pig aggregators and input and service providers; poor business practices by artificial insemination (AI) technicians/animal health service providers and limited networks to enable optimal business operations.

The objective of the business incubation/acceleration program focused on both the supply side (agripreneur focused) and the demand side (farmer focused) as follows:
Supply side:
• To empower the pig agripreneurs specifically AI service providers and pig aggregators through business skilling and mentorship
• To strengthen the linkages between the pig agripreneurs and finance institutions to enhance access to finance for business upgrading through better business practices
• To enhance the linkages between the pig agripreneurs, pig farmers, finance institutions and other business development services through an online networking platform

Demand side:
• To catalyse demand for the inputs and services delivered by the agripreneurs by sensitizing pig farmer groups on the necessary inputs and services required to run the pig enterprise as a business, and how to bargain for better terms through collective action.