The MUIIS Service Bundle consists of a series of context-specific weather alerts, agronomic tips and index-based insurance throughout the season and covers four agricultural commodities: maize, beans, sesame and soybeans. Built together by a strong consortium of seven partners, both local and international, and other third party service providers, the service is geared towards harnessing satellite data to support extension and advisory service to farmers in Uganda. At the time of the launch, over 30,000 farmers had been profiled (digitally registered) and the registration can only increase when the platform is opened to the public and farmers see the value of the service bundle.
Cognisant of the importance of engaging various stakeholders in such undertakings, the consortium invited several dignitaries to get their buy-ins. These included the special Guest of Honour Mr. Anno Galema, First secretary for food security and private sector development at the Netherlands Embassy in Uganda; Dr Okasai Opolot, Director of crop resources at the Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), and Mr. Peter Kahiigi, Director e-Government at the National Information Technology Authority – Uganda (NITA-U). More