KAMPALA – Ms Adero Ronna, a seasoned farmer from the northern region of Uganda, shared her experience at the Climate Smart Agriculture Learning Event organized by SNV on Wednesday. The event, which brought together farmers, policymakers, and development partners, aimed to share knowledge and experiences on climate-resilient agriculture practices.
“I’m proud to say that through our partnership with Craft, we’ve been able to increase our production and productivity, both at the cooperative and individual farmer levels,” Adero said, sharing her experience working with the CRAFT project.
“SNV’s Craft project has helped build our capacity and nurture farmers in growing high-quality seeds. We’ve also been able to improve our market access and entrepreneurship skills, which has enabled us to sell our products at a better price.”
Adero’s story is just one example of the impact that the CRAFT project has had on farmers in Uganda. Through its focus on climate-resilient agribusiness, the project has helped to improve the productivity and resilience of farms, while also promoting entrepreneurship and market access.
The CRAFT project, which is supported by SNV, aims to promote climate-resilient agribusiness in Uganda. The project works with smallholder farmers, farmer organizations, and private sector companies to promote the adoption of climate-smart agriculture practices. The project also provides training and capacity-building support to farmers and farmer organizations, with a focus on improving their productivity, market access, and entrepreneurship skills.
But despite the successes, there are still challenges that hinder the adoption of smart agriculture practices in Uganda.
Bashir Kasekende, the acting country director of SNV in Uganda, highlighted some of these challenges during the event.
“One of the major challenges we’re facing is the high cost of climate-smart agriculture technologies and practices,” Kasekende said.
“Many smallholder farmers lack access to finance, which makes it difficult for them to adopt these new practices. Additionally, the lack of infrastructure, such as irrigation systems and storage facilities, also hinders the adoption of climate-smart agriculture practices.”
Another challenge, according to Kasekende, is the limited access to markets for smallholder farmers. “Many farmers are producing high-quality products, but they’re struggling to find markets for them,” he said.
“This is partly due to the lack of market information and the high cost of transportation. As a result, many farmers are forced to sell their products at a low price, which affects their income and livelihoods.”
Joseph Okee, a Senior Agriculture Extension Coordinator at the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, emphasized the importance of addressing these challenges.
“Our ministry’s vision is to have a competitive, sustainable, and profitable agriculture sector,” he said.
“This means that our farmers should be able to produce high-quality products that can compete locally, regionally, and globally. To achieve this vision, we need to address the challenges that are hindering the adoption of climate-smart agriculture practices.”
The event was an opportunity for stakeholders to share their experiences and learn from each other. It was also a platform for SNV to showcase its work in promoting climate-smart agriculture in Uganda.
Adero’s experience working with the CRAFT project is a testament to the impact that climate-smart agriculture practices can have on smallholder farmers. Through the project, Adero has been able to improve her productivity and market access, which has enabled her to increase her income and improve her livelihood.
“I’m proud to be a part of the CRAFT project,” Adero said. “The project has helped me to improve my farming skills and knowledge, which has enabled me to produce high-quality products. I’ve also been able to improve my market access and entrepreneurship skills, which has enabled me to sell my products at a better price.”
Adero’s story is just one example of the impact that the CRAFT project has had on farmers in Uganda. Through its focus on climate-resilient agribusiness, the project has helped to improve the productivity and resilience of farms, while also promoting entrepreneurship and market access.
As the event came to a close, Adero smiled, feeling proud of the progress she and other farmers had made. She knew that there was still much work to be done, but she was confident that with the support of organizations like SNV and the Ministry of Agriculture, they could continue to thrive and prosper, even in the face of climate change.
The Climate Smart Agriculture Learning Event was a success, with over 100 stakeholders in attendance. The event provided a platform for stakeholders to share their experiences and learn from each other. It also provided an opportunity for SNV to showcase its work in promoting climate-smart agriculture in Uganda.
As the stakeholders left the event, they were filled with a sense of hope and optimism. They knew that there were still challenges to be addressed, but they were confident that with the support of organizations like SNV and the Ministry of Agriculture, they could overcome these challenges and build a more sustainable and resilient agriculture sector.
