Local farmers along the route of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) have been urged to organize themselves into Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisations (SACCOs) or farmer groups and secure certification from the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) or district production offices. This step is critical for farmers who wish to supply food and agricultural products to one of Uganda’s largest infrastructure projects.
According to Ms. Natasha Kasami, the National Content Lead for EACOP, certification ensures that farmers’ produce meets quality, safety, and packaging standards required by oil-and-gas contractors. “Meeting these standards opens access to high-value markets, ensures consistent demand, and can significantly improve earnings for farmers,” she said.
The 1,443-kilometre pipeline traverses multiple districts, including Hoima, Kikuube, Kakumiro, Kyankwanzi, Gomba, Mubende, Lwengo, Sembabule, Kyotera, and Rakai before crossing into Tanzania. As the main contractor, China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering Company (CPP), begins constructing camps and pipe-yards, local agriculture stands to benefit from the growing demand for fresh produce, vegetables, and other consumables to feed the workforce.
Certification not only enables farmers to supply the project but also encourages safe and sustainable agricultural practices. Farmers are being advised to reduce reliance on synthetic chemicals, enhance soil fertility, protect biodiversity, and ensure hygienic handling of produce. Diversifying crops and consolidating produce through SACCOs can help meet supply requirements efficiently.
However, several challenges exist. Many smallholder farmers lack official registration, Tax Identification Numbers (TINs), proper packaging, and aggregation capacity all prerequisites for certification and participation in supply contracts. Overcoming these barriers requires collective organization, training, and technical support.
The call to farmers emphasizes a dual approach: form or strengthen collective groups for economies of scale and capacity building, and obtain official certification to meet industry standards. Successfully doing so allows farmers to tap into EACOP’s supply chain, generate sustainable incomes, and integrate their operations into higher-value markets beyond the pipeline project.
For many farmers along the pipeline corridor, this represents a timely opportunity to transition from subsistence farming to commercial agriculture, leveraging one of Uganda’s most ambitious infrastructure projects to secure livelihoods and promote rural development.
“This initiative not only supports farmers’ incomes but also strengthens local content in one of Uganda’s biggest projects,” Ms. Kasami added.
By acting promptly, local farmers can position themselves to benefit from long-term engagement, improved farming practices, and enhanced economic resilience as Uganda continues to invest in large-scale infrastructure and industrial projects.