Butaleja Farmer Groups Receive Inputs Under Climate-Smart Agriculture Project

By Ambrose Wanagoli

Farmer groups in Butaleja District have received agricultural inputs under the Uganda Climate Smart Agriculture Transformation Project (UCSATP), an initiative by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) aimed at improving household incomes and reducing poverty among rural communities.

Speaking to journalists on Monday, the District Agriculture Engineer and Value Chain Coordinator, Charles Swama, said the project has supplied farmers with beehives, black soldier fly starter kits, fruit seedlings including mangoes and Hass avocado, as well as fish fingerlings for aquaculture.

Swama explained that beneficiary groups are required to contribute 20 percent of the project cost as co-funding, while the government provides the remaining 80 percent.

According to Swama, three farmer groups from Nawanjofu and Kachonga sub-counties received mango and Hass avocado seedlings.

Two other groups from Kayiti in Naweyo Sub-county and Butesa in Butaleja Sub-county benefited from black soldier fly starter kits, whose larvae are used as poultry feed while the residue serves as organic manure.

He said the programme has the potential to transform livelihoods if beneficiaries manage the enterprises responsibly.

However, he cited several challenges, including difficulties in raising the required co-funding, unpredictable weather conditions that affect seedling establishment, and negative attitudes towards agricultural development programmes.

Swama urged farmers to fully utilise the inputs provided to improve productivity and increase household incomes