Students of St Agatha Girls Secondary School Kakore in Rubanda district are undergoing a transformative journey, in which they are changing their mindset towards agriculture.

The young minds have become part of a new wave of Ugandan youth who are embracing the agriculture sector, bringing a ray of hope for a prosperous future. Uganda’s economy heavily relies on agriculture, which employs about 65% of the working population, of which 63% are youth.

Many of the youth living in rural areas face significant challenges, including poverty and unemployment. However, at St Agatha Girls SS, an agribusiness club is working tirelessly to shift the narrative.

The headteacher, Kereson Katongole, said the club’s primary goal is to instill agricultural values in the hearts of students.

The club has enabled them to venture into various agricultural activities, including mushroom farming, adding value to bananas, and piggery, while incorporating climate-smart innovations.

“The future of Uganda’s economy lies in the hands of the youth, and we believe that by equipping them with agricultural knowledge and skills, we are empowering them to be agents of change. Our vision is to develop young entrepreneurs who will not only contribute to the growth of the agricultural sector but also create employment opportunities for themselves and others,” Katongole said.

The impact of their efforts has gone beyond the boundaries of Rubanda. In 2020, a team of exhibitors from St Agatha participated in Vision Group’s Harvest Money Expo in Kololo, Kampala, something that opened their eyes to the vast possibilities in agriculture.

The exposure was further enhanced when they visited the renowned Rwampara Farm School, which inspired them to explore even more innovations at the school.

“Our journey to the Harvest Money Expo was eye-opening. We interacted with successful farmers and agricultural entrepreneurs, and it made us realise that agriculture is not just about subsistence farming, but it can be a lucrative business,” Joan Akankwasa, one of the students, said.

Their dedication and success did not stop there. The girls also participated in the National Agricultural Farm Camp at Gayaza High School, in Wakiso district, where they earned recognition as the second-best exhibitors.

Their achievements caught the attention of the deputy ambassador for the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, further validating their efforts and dedication.

A student at St Agatha SS Kakore attending to one of the pigs in their school

“Our girls in the agribusiness practice have embraced the earn-as-you-learn model as they participate in enterprises and earn from them some money that helps them meet their day-to-day needs. As students get some money from agriculture, they appreciate the fact that there is money in agriculture, and they cannot hate it anymore,” Katongole said.

Mushroom project 

One of the notable success stories from the agribusiness club is the mushroom project, which has become a model for skills and a source of income for the students.

Fortunate Ayebare, known as the “Mushroom Girl,” said the students have perfected the technique of mushroom cultivation. From collecting sorghum husks to the final harvest.

“Mushroom cultivation requires precision and attention to detail. We start by collecting sorghum husks and thoroughly cleaning them to remove any dirt or impurities. After that, we soak the husks in water for about 12 hours to hydrate them and soften their structure. Then we drain the water before proceeding to the next step,” Ayebare said.

Ayebare said after this, they sterilise the substrate to prevent contamination, and they do this by boiling it for at least 1 to 2 hours.

“After this process, we prepare the mushroom spawn. While the sorghum husks are cooling down, we prepare the oyster mushroom spawn. Break the spawn into small pieces and ensure it is evenly distributed throughout the sorghum husks. We then mix the spawn and substrate by thoroughly combining the spawn and sorghum husks, ensuring an even distribution of spawn. In this process, we even use clean gloves during this step to avoid contamination,” she added.

When all this is done, the girls pack the substrate into plastic bags before continuing with the incubation period.

“Once the substrate is fully colonised, we move the container to a cooler location with a temperature of around 18–24 °C. We Increase fresh air exchange by removing the sealing material or creating ventilation holes. Oyster mushrooms require high humidity levels for easy fruiting. We maintain humidity around 85–95% by misting the growing area regularly. We use a humidifier to keep the environment humid,” Ayebare said.

Students at St Agatha girls SS Kakore organising one of their nursery beds

After a few days, small pin-like structures will begin to form, which will develop into mature mushrooms within a week or two.

The girls then start harvesting the mushrooms when the caps are fully grown. They cut or twist them off the substrate close to the base, careful not to damage the mycelium.

“After the first harvest, the mycelium may produce additional flushes of mushrooms. We, therefore, continue to mist, maintain suitable conditions, and repeat the fruiting process until the substrate is exhausted or contamination occurs,” Ayebare said.

In a period of one month, the students earned more than sh500,000 from the venture. They use part of the money to expand their project but also share some to help with their day-to-day expenditures.

“I saved some of the money I received from this project last term, and when I went home for the holidays, I started the same project and trained my parents on how to manage it in my absence,” Ayebare said.

The girls at St. Agatha also have a solar dryer where they put some of the mushrooms to dry and sell them as powder at a cost of sh80,000 per kg.

While the fresh kilogramme of mushrooms goes for sh4,000, Ayebare said they find it important to prioritise the powder as well since it earns them more money.

“Mushroom powder has a longer shelf life and can be used in various culinary applications. It also fetches a higher price compared to fresh mushrooms. This way, we are maximising our profits and reaching a broader market,” she added.

Brenda Kyarisiima, another student in the mushroom growing group, said they have acquired skills that will help them not waste time looking for white-collar jobs but rather employ their efforts in earning from agribusiness.

“The unemployment challenge in the country is real. I have already found a solution to the challenge now that I have acquired this skill in mushroom growing. I no longer cry of poverty while at school, and I am optimistic that even out of this school, I will be earning better than those searching for white-collar jobs,” she said.

Piggery project 

In addition to the successful mushroom venture, the students have also embraced piggery.

The piggery project has provided them with a clear opportunity for increased income while showcasing the viability of animal husbandry in a school environment.

Sostine Kato, a Senior Two student who is involved in the piggery project, said the project earned her a piglet last year.

“I can properly care for pigs because hygiene is key in piggery management,” Kato said.

The piggery project, like the mushroom venture, has been implemented on part of the school’s land, demonstrating that profitable agricultural activities can be conducted even with limited resources.

The success of the project is not just confined to the school premises.

The students sell some of the pigs to the school during special events and to neighbouring communities.

Students in the Sports for Agribusiness in action at their netball pitch

The income generated from pig sales is then re-invested to buy more piglets and improve the facilities.

The students also share a portion of the profits. As part of their agriculture subject, the students have learned to employ environmentally friendly methods to manage waste and create a healthy living environment for the pigs.

“The piggery project has given us insights into sustainable farming practices. We use the pig manure to fertilise our banana plantations, creating a closed-loop system that benefits both our livestock and our crops,” added Kato.

Students skilled 

The success of the agribusiness club at St. Agatha would not have been possible without the support of the Skilling in Agripreneurship for Increased Youth Employment (SAY) project.

With funding from the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, a four-year project is implemented by the AVSI Foundation Uganda. Additionally, the project targets youth aged 13–18 years in secondary schools and justice system rehabilitation centres, providing them with the necessary agribusiness knowledge and skills for long-term engagement in agriculture.

“The project has been a game-changer for our school and the students involved. It has opened doors to new opportunities and experiences,” Katongole said.

John Bosco Namara, the patron of the Uganda National Students Association (UNSA) for Rubanda district, praised the school’s approach to integrating agriculture into the students’ lives.

“It is commendable to see a school taking on such an innovative approach to teaching agriculture. Agriculture is the backbone of Uganda’s economy, and by instilling a positive attitude towards agribusiness in young minds, the school is contributing to the sector’s growth and sustainability,” Namara said.

The success of St. Agatha's agribusiness ventures has also attracted the attention of local authorities. The school has become a model for other educational institutions seeking to foster a similar agricultural mindset among their students.

Stephen Kasyaba, the Rubanda district LCV chairperson, lauded the school’s achievements and the integration of the earn-as-you-learn approach.

“The school is a shining example of what can be achieved when youth are empowered to pursue agribusiness ventures,” Kasyaba said.

Kasyaba assured the school leadership of continued support from the local government to enhance agricultural education and empower the youth to actively participate in the sector.

We sport, farm

To further integrate agriculture into the student’s lives, the school introduced a sports component, where players engage in agricultural activities before hitting the netball pitch.

This approach not only fosters interest in agribusiness but also provides opportunities for the students to learn from model farmers during competitions.

Anitah Ainembabazi, the school’s sports captain, said in the various competitions they attend, they usually get opportunities to visit model farmers before they go for games.

“If we have a netball competition outside the school, we utilise that outing to visit some of the model farmers in those areas to acquire some more skills in agriculture,” Ainembabazi said.