Defining the business model and starting up the business.

In the Kisoro area the potato is one of the major crops. A new factory (Kisoro Potato Processing Industries Ltd) has been built by a Ugandan investor, supported by funding from the Netherlands embassy. They will process potatoes into frozen french fries. For this purpose Kisoro District Potato Growers Co-Operative Union has been created; a union of 12 cooperatives of potato growers in the district. A Memorandum of Understanding has already been signed between the union and the factory. The biggest challenge is the production of suitable varieties. There is a delay in starting up the production process in this factory. Agriterra will support the Union with their organization, and will support a lot of small farmers in a typical potato area. Kisoro is now also searching for other potential buyers. The main goal for 2016 is starting up the business. The focus for the project this year is: - financial management (assisting accountant) - business planning (exchange visit, mission on business planning) - internal capitalisation - setting up farmer field schools