Total Energies EP Uganda, as part of its Agricultural Support Services program [AgricSSP], has recently completed the handover of post-harvest handling equipment to 20 Farmer Groups and Associations comprised of Project Affected Households.
This initiative aims to empower farmers by providing them with essential tools to enhance their agricultural practices and boost household incomes.
The equipment distributed includes Cassava chippers, silos, milling plants, and drying racks, among others. The implementation of this program is entrusted to Living Earth Uganda, acting on behalf of Total Energies EP Uganda.
During the handover ceremony, Mr. Philippe GROUEIX, the General Manager of Total Energies EP Uganda, emphasized the company’s commitment to sustainable development and the well-being of the local community.
He stated, “The handover we are witnessing today, as well as the activities we are undertaking for livelihood restoration, align with our sustainable development pillars focused on people’s well-being. Our ultimate goal is to create positive impact and shared value for those affected by our projects and those living in proximity to our operations.”
The event was graced by the presence of Hon. Dr. Ruth Nankabirwa Ssentamu, the Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, who expressed her appreciation for the collaboration between Living Earth Uganda and the farmers [PAPS].
She commended their efforts and remarked, “Well done LEU and the Project-affected Persons [PAPs(farmers)], the cassava has some natural sugar.” Furthermore, Hon. Nankabirwa highlighted the potential of cassava chips, stating, “With this cassava chippers technology, we can advance into other products like crisps, not just flour.”
Total EP Uganda is funding the Provision of Agriculture Support Service project [AgricSSP] to support the livelihood restoration process of those affected by the oil and gas developments in the Tilenga oil exploration area in line with government guidelines.
Hon. Nankabirwa reaffirmed the government’s commitment to implementing Uganda’s oil and gas projects in an environmentally sustainable manner while focusing on the welfare of the population. She stated, “We shall sustainably exploit Uganda’s natural resources for social and economic transformation.”
The Post-Harvest Handling Process
To shed light on the cassava value chain, Philmon Nganda, the Living Earth Uganda’s Senior Agronomist in charge of Post-Harvest, explained the various stages involved across the value chain, right from garden preparation, seed selection, planting, disease and pest control, weeding, and finally, harvesting.
“First, cassava is carefully peeled, washed, and drained of water, after which it is chipped into smaller pieces. These cassava chips are then spread out on a raised drying rack, where they undergo a thorough drying process. Under optimal conditions, such as a sunny day, complete drying can be achieved within three hours.” Nganda explained
“Once the cassava chips have dried, they are transported to a milling plant, where they are transformed into flour. Alternatively, if the need arises, they can be stored in the smart silos provided” Nganda added; emphasizing that storage is particularly useful when producers are in waiting for more favorable market prices.
About Total Energies
TotalEnergies has been actively operating in Uganda since 1955 through its marketing operations, boasting over 200 stations throughout the country. TotalEnergies EP Uganda, as an upstream affiliate, spearheads the development activities for production in the Tilenga project area, specifically Contract Area 1 (CA-1) and Licence Area 2 North (LA-2N) within the Albertine Region. The company remains dedicated to supporting local communities and promoting sustainable development in Uganda.