By Senabulya Isaac
Gov’t unveils initiatives to boost Climate resilient farming
Government has launched a groundbreaking initiatives designed to empower farmers with the resources and knowledge needed to adopt climate-resilient agricultural practices to enhance their ability to withstand the impacts of climate change and improve food security.
The initiatives under the Uganda Climate Smart Agricultural Transformation Project seeks to support small holder farmers in adapting to the impacts of climate change, enhancing their productivity and resilience.
According to Eng Boniface Okannya, the project coordinator, the project initiatives that will include among others matching grants, are to benefit farmer groups in 69 districts including seven refugee settlement camps to support mechanization, and promote climate-resilient agricultural practices.
“The project is designed to upgrade small-scale farmers to large-scale farmers, covering the entire value chain, including crops, livestock, fisheries, and beneficial insects like the black soldier fly,” Mr Okannya explained adding;
“The project will also focus on eliminating roadblocks to farmer mobility, improving post-harvest handling, and enhancing market access.”
Mr Stephen Tibeijuke Byantwale Commissioner Crop Protection at ministry of agriculture, said the project is to also enable refugees in seven refugee settlement camps grow their own food citing decline in refugee donor funding.
“Of late donor funding has decreased, the project therefore will enable refugees to grow their own food but also empower them economically through growing some crops like vegetables they can sell to communities around them,” said Mr Tibeijuka.
Okannya noted that the project will also prioritize extension services, training, and retooling extension workers to support farmers in areas like farming knowledge, early warnings, and pest management.
“The project will also support the development of agro-meteorological systems to provide farmers with weather updates and early warnings,” he said.
According to Ms Kushina Kundanangwe, Senior Agricultural Economist with the World Bank and Task Team Leader for the project, the $350 million project will focus on 13 value chains across various sub-sectors of agriculture, including livestock, crops, fisheries, and beneficial insects.
“we are going to see the small holder farmers actually access much-needed inputs for their production purposes,” Kundanangwe said.
