As a native of the Netherlands, a country whose economy, much like that of East Africa, heavily relies on agriculture, I have witnessed firsthand the transformative power of intentional government policies and private sector involvement in the agri-food sector. Over the past five decades, the Netherlands has emerged as the world's second-largest agricultural producer by employing this recipe for success and I believe that East Africa has the potential to follow suit and soar as a leading agricultural producer, even in the face of climate risks.

Smallholder farmers feed two out of every three people in the world, yet they continue to grapple with the effects of climate change such as soil depletion, post-harvest losses and pests, and diseases, among others.

According to FAO, nearly half of the agricultural workforce in sub-Saharan Africa comprises women, indicating their significance in agriculture and food systems. However, their role in this sector is often limited by structural and cultural barriers among others.

Simon O’Connell, Chief Executive Officer of SNV, visited Okeba Uganda Limited, one of the agribusinesses supported by Climate Resilient Agribusiness for Tomorrow (CRAFT). This visit was part of the CEO’s visit to the Ugandan program.