climate resilient potato farmers

Towards Social Justice in Uganda, Driven by Inclusive and Sustainable Family Entrepreneurship Worldwide​

BACKGROUND

Climate change is threatening the productivity of Uganda’s main staple foods: bananas, maize and rice. Because potatoes can produce more food with less water and land, with shorter production periods and higher resilience to environmental stress, they form an excellent alternative to provide food and income for the growing number of food-insecure households. In recent years potatoes have also gained popularity in Uganda’s urban centers. Due to their specific growing conditions, potatoes are mainly grown in the higher altitude regions of Southwestern Uganda but also in parts of the East and the Northwest.

However, there are still challenges like major disease outbreaks, inappropriate cropping practices, substandard access to qualitative seeds and in recent years erratic rainfall patterns and effects in soil erosion, reduction in soil fertility as well as floods, all linked to climate change.

The project focuses on the priority weaknesses of access to quality seeds through seed multiplication and storage facilities while building resilience to climate change through climate smart agriculture practices.

OBJECTIVES

The project aims at increasing the supply of climate resilient quality potato seeds to family farmers active in the potatoes value chain in Zombo district and increased knowledge of climate change adaptation and mitigation techniques by farmers of ZODFA and beyond

STRATEGIES

• Extension support to farmers on climate smart agriculture practices, the correct use of seeds, coupled with adequate soil and water management techniques and, including demonstrations sites.
• Roll out of sufficient quality seeds through the seed multiplicators of ZODFA
• Farmer sensitization on the advantages and potential of using Quality Declared Seeds (QDS)
• Facilitating linkages with Nyaravur Sacco to provide credit to farmers to invest in the potato enterprise.
• Construction of seed potato warehouses, accompanied with training in stores management
• Policy dialogues to foster climate adaptation and mitigation in West Nile sub region.
• Formation of close working relationships with key stakeholders through information sharing, networking and partnership strengthening.

SYNERGIES WITH OTHER BELGIAN NON-GOVERNMENTAL ACTORS

Trias promotes the development of sustainable agricultural market chains at local and regional level, in which organized family farmers influence trade relationships and improve their net incomes. We regard cooperation with the private sector a key precondition to enable economic development and allow agricultural entrepreneurs to achieve their own development goals. In this project, Trias and ZODFA cooperate with Agristo, a Belgian company, renown in the development and production of frozen potato products and technical knowledge in seed warehouses, seed management and sourcing. The company provides technical support in potato cultivation and construction of three warehouses for seed conservation accompanied by coaching, training in conservation management.

In addition, in the project a collaboration was established with a technical vocational in Torhout, Belgium to develop a potato-sorting machine. More information can be found here.

Click here for more information from the G-STIC website.