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Sustainable Agriculture

Uganda being an agricultural based country, SARD-Net members across the country believe in a farming system that is based on processes that strive to meet the needs necessary for an integrated, happy life of those depending on the farm for their livelihoods by mainstreaming sustainable development of the available human, physical, financial, social and natural capital resources. The implementation of this strategy requires approaches that focus on the geographical community and processes that are participatory leading to the active involvement of targeted communities. Therefore, SARD-Net develops the capacity and capability of its members and that of the target rural communities for effective and efficient promotion of Sustainable Agriculture for enhancing the livelihoods of rural households in Uganda.

SARD-Net supports smallholder farmers to develop a range of Livelihood projects to improve their household income and food security. SARD-Net uses Climate Resilient Agro ecosystem Model (CRAEM), GALS and VSLA methodologies to empower the smallholder farmers to become economic drivers in their community, SARD-Net links them to agro-business companies and individuals enabling the smallholder farmers within the community to become role models and build sustainable market access for them.

What we want to do:

We want all smallholder families to have the skills/ability to provide nutritious food, educational opportunities and emotional support necessary to thrive. We are working towards this by:

  • Improving household food security.
  • Increasing household income.
  • Improving families’ abilities to prepare for and cope with emergencies.
  • Improving on and off-farm management of natural resources.

Our Strategies:

  • Strengthen food production, resilience and access to markets / financial services – so that smallholder farmers can produce more, better and more sustainable nutritious food for household consumption and marketing purposes.
  • Promote agriculture market development i.e. value chain development, quality and standards.
  • Influencing policies on Agriculture i.e. Research & advocacy.
  • Promoting women’s economic empowerment – so that through women’s economic advancementaccess to opportunities, services, and resources, and agency, including decision-making ability in households and markets, manageable paid and unpaid workloads, and well-being.

What have we achieved?*

  • We have skilled up to 100,000 smallholder farmers in sustainable farming practices in Uganda.
  • The percentage of targeted households that are food secure all year increased from 11% at baseline in 2017 to 75% by 2021.
  • The percentage of families who have increased their income from Ugx.100,000 to Ugx.200,000 per week from farm business increased from 6% at baseline to 65% by the end of 2022.
  • 4,550 smallholder farmers skilled in post-harvest handling, value – addition, marketing and putting this to practices.
  • 75% of women involved in decision making process at household level due to capacity building in Gender Action Acton Learning System (GALS).
  • The number of Savings for Transformation Groups (VSLA groups) has increased by 45% from 50 in 2020 to 90 in 2021.
Niye Ki tic youth group mulching their tomato garden in Lokung Sub County, Lamwo District.
Youth leaders during a Learning visit at Tedo Pee youth group in Lokung Sub County, Lamwo District.
Riber ber VSLA youth group in Palabek refugee settlement, Lamwo District
A Seed Bank constructed by SARD-Net for Nen Anyim Farmer Group in Kaliro village, Lamwo District

SARD-Net supports smallholder farmers to develop a range of Livelihood projects to improve their household income and food security. SARD-Net uses Climate Resilient Agro ecosystem Model (CRAEM), GALS and VSLA methodologies to empower the smallholder farmers to become economic drivers in their community, SARD-Net links them to agro-business companies and individuals enabling the smallholder farmers within the community to become role models and build sustainable market access for them.