Small farmers’ exports hit sh1.6 trillion
Nov 22, 2010
SMALLHOLDER farmers exported produce worth $700m (about sh1.6 trillion) in the past three years. The improvement was possible because of a $35m (sh77b) grant from the United States Agency for International Development.
By D. Ssempijja and J. Waiswa
SMALLHOLDER farmers exported produce worth $700m (about sh1.6 trillion) in the past three years. The improvement was possible because of a $35m (sh77b) grant from the United States Agency for International Development.
According to Paul Forrest, the project director, the money, which was channelled through the Livelihoods and Enterprises for Agricultural Development project, was used to improve cash and food crop production in the country.
“We are happy with the progress of the project in Uganda. We have reached 405,000 farmers out the 600,000 targeted,†said Forrest.
Forrest was addressing beneficiaries from the Uganda Coffee Trade Federation, the Uganda Seed Trade Association and the Uganda Oil Seed Producers and Processors Association during a meeting last week at the project’s head office in Nakasero in Kampala last week.
The five-year project aims at moving Uganda’s agricultural sector from subsistence farming to commercial farming.
Forest said the project supports smallholder farmers and related small-to-medium enterprises to optimise opportunities created by rising commodity prices, growing regional markets and the urgent need to improve food security.
The programme operates in 35 districts and mainly targets farmers’ associations and groups in the country.
“We have about 500,000 farmers working with USAID through farmer groups.
“It has been with the private sector to have more farmers and field farmer’s schools,†Forest said.
He added that the project funding would help with activities that strengthen producer’s organisations, focusing on group management skills, institution capacity and agri-business skills.
The project has increased the farmers’ household income and produce by over 50% by teaching them on better farming methods.
It supports 15,000 producer organisations formed and has so far reached 4,500 families.
SMALLHOLDER farmers exported produce worth $700m (about sh1.6 trillion) in the past three years. The improvement was possible because of a $35m (sh77b) grant from the United States Agency for International Development.
According to Paul Forrest, the project director, the money, which was channelled through the Livelihoods and Enterprises for Agricultural Development project, was used to improve cash and food crop production in the country.
“We are happy with the progress of the project in Uganda. We have reached 405,000 farmers out the 600,000 targeted,†said Forrest.
Forrest was addressing beneficiaries from the Uganda Coffee Trade Federation, the Uganda Seed Trade Association and the Uganda Oil Seed Producers and Processors Association during a meeting last week at the project’s head office in Nakasero in Kampala last week.
The five-year project aims at moving Uganda’s agricultural sector from subsistence farming to commercial farming.
Forest said the project supports smallholder farmers and related small-to-medium enterprises to optimise opportunities created by rising commodity prices, growing regional markets and the urgent need to improve food security.
The programme operates in 35 districts and mainly targets farmers’ associations and groups in the country.
“We have about 500,000 farmers working with USAID through farmer groups.
“It has been with the private sector to have more farmers and field farmer’s schools,†Forest said.
He added that the project funding would help with activities that strengthen producer’s organisations, focusing on group management skills, institution capacity and agri-business skills.
The project has increased the farmers’ household income and produce by over 50% by teaching them on better farming methods.
It supports 15,000 producer organisations formed and has so far reached 4,500 families.