This project will support 500 direct subsistence farmers in Northern Uganda to grow cotton, chickpeas, mung beans & different fruits while linking them to international buyers who can offer stable markets with higher prices. The market linkages & use of organic farming will help farmers reduce their impact on the environment & open doors for them to access broader markets for their produce. These farmers will increase their income from about $20 dollar on average per month to $80 by March 2019.
In Northern Uganda, 80% of the population farms for a living. However, poverty rates in this region are among the highest in the country. This is due to a lack of access to international markets, a lack of crop variety, and a lack of information about farming techniques and inputs. Farmers are further affected by uncertainty in local markets influenced by climate change, weather, and the health of the local economy. All these things put families at risk of malnutrition, illness & abject poverty.
This project will organize 500 farmers into farmer groups in order to support them how to diversify their produce through growing cotton, chickpeas, mung beans & fruits. By organizing the farmers into groups, they will be able to attract international buyers that have already been identified by FICH. These buyers can offer the farmers a stable market & reliable prices for their produce. Also, by teaching farmers organic farming methods will reduce their input costs & impact on the environment.
International markets will give farmers a reliable stream of income that will improve the livelihoods of their families and organic farming methods will improve farmers' adaptability to climate change and economic shocks. Ultimately, this will help farmers and their families (over 3,500 people) achieve greater levels of food security, health, shelter and education.
