F U E L I N G M A R K E T S ,A C C E L E R AT I N G

A G R I C U LT U R A L P R O D U C T I V I T Y

CATAL I ST-Uganda

20,379 oil crops farmers

Project reach

SunflowerSoybean

Lowlandrice

Irishpotatoes

18,693 rice farmers

12,860 potato farmers

1,723 cassava farmers

“Since 2012 we have been working to sustainably commercialize smallholder farmer agriculture through improved productivity and market development. This has resulted in marketable surpluses raising farm incomes in Uganda and increasing regional food security in East Africa.”

CATALIST-Uganda is focusing on value chain development in lowland and upland rice, potatoes, cassava, soybean and sunflower. Market pull is the starting point for value chain development through the creation of market opportunities for suppliers and buyers. We are helping smallholder farmers participate in agribusiness clusters which create and expand linkages to national, regional (East African) and International/Dutch markets for better incomes.Production push aims at inclusion by getting more youth and women involved in farming and livelihoods, training in agronomy and agribusiness as well as driving adoption of improved farming practices through establishment of demonstration fields, mechanization, quality seed and fertilizer use.

20 districts in Northern, Eastern and Southwestern Uganda

Cassava

The CATALIST-Uganda project is funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It is part of IFDC’s East and Southern Africa Division and works with farmer-based organizations, national and international non-governmental organizations, the Uganda Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, National Agriculture Research Organization (NARO) and International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA).

52%are female farmers

46% of participating farmers are youth

Project participants:

Building capacity of farmer groups:Working with nine local organizations with expertise in agriculture and agribusiness, farmers are mobilized to form robust associations and agribusiness clusters. These groups provide platforms through which farmer skills and knowledge are built in Farming as a Business (FAAB), Gender in Value Chain Development, product market quality and premium market targeting.

Strengthening smallholder market linkages: In partnership with BID Network, the project supports agro-enterprises to develop workable realistic business plans through: business coaching, business plans competitions and Business to Business linkages with firms in the Netherlands.Increasing access to quality planting material:Variety cleaning and multiplication: To increase the availability of potato seed, the project, in collaboration with NARO-KAZADI, has cleaned three farmer preferred potato varieties: Rwangume, Kinigi and Rwashaki. The project supports the construction of facilities (on-farm screen houses) for utilization in production, which helps ensure the timely availability of quality seed to farmers.Introduction of new varieties: Twenty one Dutch potato varieties are undergoing evaluation to assess adaptability, yield and processing/utilization qualities. Varieties that meet the required results will be added to the national potato variety list for commercial importation.

What we do:

53,655 participating farmers

Rice transplanting in Eastern Uganda

Improved methods of drying cassava- Northern Uganda

Increasing access and usage of agro-inputs: In partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) and Uganda National Agro-Input Dealers Association (UNADA), agro-input dealers and stockists are empowered with knowledge and skills to provide technical advice on the safe use of agro-chemicals. Farmer and agro-dealer linkages are supported for improved availability of inputs, joint purchasing and registration of stockists.Value addition: We work with partners to improve sorting, grading, milling, de-stoning, color grading, separation and packaging of rice. Post-harvest handling of seed potato is supported through construction of potato storage facilities like Diffused Light Stores and model stores.Access to finance: Smallholder farmers form Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLA) where they can access loans to purchase agro-inputs for improved production yields. The project creates linkages of farmer associations to commercial banks for larger agri-loans to increase agricultural investment.Mechanization: Equipping farmers with low-cost technologies for improved post-harvest and quality produce. These include motorized threshers and cassava chippers. Farmers are also trained in the operation and maintenance of such technologies.Access to off takers: Infrastructure support for feeder roads rehabilitation, improved irrigation networks, construction of storage facilities and drying yards to improve quality of produce, market access and reduce cost of transportation.

IFDC-CatalISt UgandaPlot 5, Bandali Rise, Studio House, BugolobiP.O. Box 75391, Clock Tower, Kampala, UgandaTel: +256 312 518 549Email: ifdcuganda@ifdc.org

: @CATALISTUganda : IFDC CATALIST-Uganda© IFDC 2015. All rights reserved. ifdc.org

Potato screen house- Kabale district