Uganda Climate Smart Agricultural Transformation Project. To increase productivity, market access and resilience of select value chains in the project area.
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Master Trainers have successfully concluded a five-day training on the Farmer Field and Business School (FFBS) approach at the National Agricultural Research Laboratories (NARL), Kawanda.
The final day focused on Environmental and Social Safeguards, Monitoring and Evaluation in FFBS, and practical sessions on Agro-Ecosystem Analysis (AESA), equipping participants with practical skills to support effective FFBS implementation.
Closing the training, Commissioner for Agriculture Extension and Skills Management, Dr. Nakalet Opolot, urged facilitators to go beyond simply teaching farmers scientific concepts. He emphasized the importance of helping farmers understand how the science works and how they can apply it to improve their farming practices.
Dr. Opolot also highlighted the importance of value chain development, calling on facilitators to help farmers understand the potential income at every stage of production, including opportunities to add value to their products and increase returns.
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Uganda Climate Smart Agric Transformation Project retweeted
Farmers gain skills to manage mango pests and increase harvests
The Department of Crop Production and Protection staff Dickens Murungi and James Okidi Ogwang (SIAs) have today trained farmer leaders in Integrated Crop Pests and Diseases Management at Nakwero B Village, Kira Municipality, Wakiso District.
The session was coordinated by Commissioner Crop Production and Protection, Mr. Alex Lwakuba. The hands‑on training focused on tackling mango pests, especially fruit flies, which continue to threaten production and farmer incomes.
Farmers learned practical skills in pest identification, management, and how to prepare homemade fruit fly baits as part of integrated pest control.
Farmers appreciated MAAIF’s timely response, noting that fruit fly infestations have severely reduced mango yields and limited their ability to benefit from the growing market demand.
To strengthen nationwide capacity, similar trainings are planned across other mango‑growing districts to help farmers overcome pest and disease challenges, improve productivity, and meet their income targets.
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The ongoing Farmer Field and Business School training took a practical turn today as participants moved into the field to conduct Agro-Ecosystem Analysis (AESA)!
Working in teams, participants observed the crop and field environment where they assessed key aspects such as crop growth, pests and diseases, soil conditions, weather and other factors that influence farm productivity.
Through practical sessions like AESA, the training equips participants with hands-on skills to identify challenges, analyse their causes and develop appropriate solutions that can improve farm management and productivity.
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CALL TO ACTION ON MANGO PESTS AND DISEASES
@Maaifclf Department of Crop Production and Protection staff, Dickens Murungi and James Okidi Ogwang (SIAs), are training farmer leaders in Integrated Crop Pests and Diseases Management at Nakwero B Village, Kira Municipal Council, Wakiso District. The training is coordinated by Commissioner Crop Production and Protection, Alex Lwakuba.
The practical training is equipping farmers with knowledge and skills to manage mango pests and diseases, with a particular focus on fruit flies. Participants were also trained in the preparation and use of homemade fruit fly baits as part of integrated pest management.
Farmers appreciated @Maaifclf for responding to their concerns, noting that fruit fly infestations have significantly affected mango production and limited their ability to benefit economically from the available market for mangoes in the area.
Similar trainings have been planned for other mango-growing districts to address pest and disease challenges, strengthen farmers' capacity in integrated crop protection, and support them to achieve their mango production and income targets.
@FrankTumwebazek
@DESIREtheFARMER
@PS_MAAIF
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The Farmer Field and Business School training at NARL Kawanda is still ongoing, with participants continuing to build practical skills for effective FFBS implementation.
Today’s sessions focused on group exercises, discussions and presentations, key steps involved in establishing and managing Farmer Field Schools, with emphasis on practical approaches that enable farmers to learn, experiment and make informed decisions based on their own field experiences, the training further covered crop phenology, with participants examining the different growth stages of crops such as maize and groundnuts etc.
The practical sessions are strengthening participants’ ability to identify crop growth stages, understand changing field conditions and apply timely interventions—skills that will support effective farmer learning and decision-making when FFBS approaches are implemented in communities.
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Uganda Climate Smart Agric Transformation Project retweeted
Uganda moves to seal loopholes in fishing gear imports
The Minister of State for Fisheries, Hon. Robert Migadde Ndugwa today hosted a high-level strategic inter-agency meeting aimed at strengthening collaboration and harmonizing regulations governing the importation of fishing appliances, fish, and fishery products.
The meeting, held at the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) Ministerial Boardroom, was chaired by the Minister of State for Fisheries and attended by the State Minister of Trade, Hon. Gen. Wilson Mbadi, alongside senior leadership from the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) and Department of Fisheries Control Regulations and Quality Assurance.
The deliberations focused on resolving regulatory bottlenecks, combating the influx of substandard fishing gear, and streamlining clearing processes at border entry points to support legitimate trade while protecting Uganda’s fishery.
@FrankTumwebazek @PS_MAAIF @StateHouseUg @KagutaMuseveni @mkainerugaba
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Uganda Climate Smart Agric Transformation Project retweeted
#MAAIFMediaTracker on handover and distribution of 150 single axle tractors to farmer groups, presided over by Hon. Desire Muhooza the Minister of State for Agriculture.
📝Govt gives farmers 150 tractors to boost mechanization
⭐️ @newvisionwire
🔗newvision.co.ug/category/new…
📝Govt hands over 150 power tillers to farmer groups
⭐️ @DailyMonitor
🔗monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/na…
📽 PDM farmers receive tractors from Agriculture Ministry
⭐️ @ubctvuganda
🔗piped.video/mNdSMmReI3E?si=JvC3…
📽 Farmer groups get walk-behind tractors to enhance food security.
⭐️ @ntvuganda
🔗ntv.co.ug/news/national-news…
About the tractors:
❇️ Walk-behind single-axle tractors (often called a power tiller, two-wheel tractor, or walking tractor) are self-propelled, compact tractors that are powered by a single axle and two wheels.
❇️ Unlike a traditional four-wheel tractor where the operator sits on a seat, the operator walks behind the machine and guides it using hand controls mounted on a set of handlebars.
❇️ The tractors which were handed over by the Minister are equipped with small but powerful diesel or petrol engines ranging from 5 to 15 horsepower.
❇️ They are highly economical as they can till up to two acres of land per day using only about 1 to 2 litres of fuel.
The tractors were availed through the Uganda Climate Smart Agricultural Transformation Project (UCSATP) at a ceremony that was also graced by Hon. Amelia Kyambadde the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture and Hon. Molly Nawe Kamukama the Woman Member of Parliament for Kazo District.
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Uganda Climate Smart Agric Transformation Project retweeted
Building a stronger extension system for climate‑smart agriculture
Training of trainers on the Farmer Field Schools (FFS) and Farmer Field Business School (FFBS) approach is underway at NARL Kawanda, marking a major step toward strengthening Uganda’s agricultural extension system under UCSATP.
This training is creating a national pool of experts who will cascade practical, farmer‑centred skills to agricultural extension officers across UCSATP‑supported districts, and eventually nationwide.
Through the cascade model, master trainers will equip extension officers to establish and facilitate community‑level FFBS groups, giving farmers hands‑on platforms to:
-Learn by doing
-Test climate‑smart technologies
-Experiment with improved practices
-Make evidence‑based decisions tailored to their own farming conditions
By integrating FFBS into UCSATP, the project is translating investments and innovations directly to the farm, strengthening farmer groups, boosting productivity, and supporting the shift toward resilient, market‑oriented agricultural enterprises.
This milestone signals the beginning of a sustainable extension system capable of taking climate‑smart knowledge, technologies, and business skills closer to farmers across all project districts.
@FrankTumwebazek @PS_MAAIF @DesireMuhooza @StateHouseUg @KagutaMuseveni @mkainerugaba
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Training of Master Trainers on Farmer Field and Business School Approach is underway at NARL Kawanda. The training is aimed at building a pool of trainers who will cascade these skills to extension workers across UCSATP-supported districts and later to the entire country. The @MAAIF through @UCSATP, is strengthening agricultural extension through the Farmer Field School (FFS) and Farmer Field and Business School (FFBS) approach which places farmers at the centre of learning, enabling them to learn by doing, experiment with improved practices and make informed decisions based on their own farming conditions.
Through the cascade training model, National Master Trainers will equip Agricultural Extension Officers with the skills to establish and facilitate community-level FFBS groups. These groups will provide a practical platform for farmers to access, test and adopt climate-smart technologies, innovations and improved farm management practices relevant to their value chains. This farmer-centred approach is expected to strengthen the capacity of organised farmer groups to make evidence-based decisions, improve productivity and manage their enterprises more effectively.
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The integration of FFBS into @UCSATP therefore provides a practical pathway for translating project investments and technical innovations into results at farm level. By linking knowledge, technology, business skills and market orientation, the approach supports UCSATP’s broader ambition of transforming agriculture from low-productivity farming towards more productive, resilient and commercially oriented agricultural enterprises. The training of Master Trainers marks an important step in establishing a sustainable extension system capable of taking these innovations and practices closer to farmers across the project-supported districts.
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The Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries @MAAIF_Uganda has commissioned and handed over 150 Single Axle Tractors and implements, commonly known as power tillers, to farmer groups and institutions across the country. The handover at MAAIF Kampala Offices in Wandegeya was presided over by the Minister of State for Agriculture, @DESIREtheFARMER alongside Members of the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries.
The equipment will support smallholder farmers with bush clearing, land opening, ploughing, transportation and value addition, advancing Government’s drive towards modern agricultural mechanisation. The latest handover builds on 650 high-capacity tractors and 1,000 Single Axle Tractors previously distributed across all 146 District Local Governments.
To ensure sustainable use, beneficiaries will sign renewable three-year agreements with @MAAIF_Uganda , receive operator training and benefit from routine maintenance support and monitoring.
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@Maaifclf
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The recently trained plant doctors helping farmers in addressing crop health issues in Gomba, Sheema, Kumi among other districts
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Strengthening Uganda’s Response to Crop Pests & Diseases
Stakeholders from the backgrounds of Research, Academia,@OPMUganda , @min_waterUg , District Local Governments and @MAAIF_Uganda are convening at the National Agricultural Research Laboratories (NARL), Kawanda, to review the draft National Strategy on Rapid Response to the Control of Crop Pest and Disease Outbreaks in Uganda.
The engagement aims to review the draft strategy and provide technical input to strengthen Uganda’s preparedness, coordination and response to crop pest and disease outbreaks.
The strategy aligns with the Uganda Climate-Smart Agricultural Transformation Project @UCSATP Development Objective of increasing agricultural productivity, enhancing market access and strengthening the resilience of targeted agricultural value chains, while enabling prompt and effective response to eligible crises and emergencies.
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This will provide a framework for addressing key challenges associated with the detection, prevention, management and control of crop pest and disease outbreaks across the country.
Through collaborative engagement, stakeholders are working towards a stronger, coordinated and more resilient agricultural sector.
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Uganda Climate Smart Agric Transformation Project retweeted
Bringing Climate Smart inputs closer to the farmers, aimed at strengthening Climate Change resilience among the smallholder farming communities. @kiruhuralg
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The three-day National Validation Workshop, organised by @Maaifclf through the @UCSATP in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO), was successfully concluded yesterday at @NaroKawanda.
The workshop brought together key stakeholders including @UVTABOfficial , TVET and academic institutions, research institutes, the private sector and other Government institutions to review and validate competency-based curricula in Agricultural Mechanisation, Irrigation, Farm Structures, and Soil and water.
The validation process focused on ensuring that the proposed curricula respond to the competencies and skills required in the agricultural sector, while addressing existing skills gaps and market needs.
The curricula will support an apprenticeship training programme, combining institutional learning with practical, industry-based training to develop competent personnel across the four areas. The initiative complements @UCSATP investments by strengthening the skilled workforce required to support climate-smart, sustainable and resilient agricultural production.
@FrankTumwebazek @MAAIF_Uganda @PS_MAAIF @GcicAgriculture @ILO_NewYork
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