Farmers in the West Nile region are earning big from commercial vegetable farming, after receiving specialised training in agronomic practices.
Fred Echoku, a commercial tomato farmer from Ngalikia village, Odupi sub-county in Terego district, has been growing tomatoes for years.
However, his initial harvests were poor, due to a lack of knowledge in nursery bed management, proper planting techniques, quality seed selection, harvesting and transportation.
Caroline Asianzu, a watermelon buyer from Arua Main Market in Arua city, also faced challenges in securing a consistent supply of quality watermelons. Farmers often delivered small-sized produce and at times, unreliable supplies, negatively impacting her business.
Farmers get support
These challenges persisted until 2022, when East-West Seed Knowledge Transfer (EWS-KT), in collaboration with the Arab Gulf Programme for Development (AGFUND), launched the “Improving Food Security, Incomes and Reducing Chronic Malnutrition” project in Westnile. This initiative aims to enhance vegetable production through hands-on training for farmers and other key stakeholders, as well as promoting innovative and sustainable farming techniques.
Echoku acknowledged the impact of this training on his farming practices.
“I was hesitant to invest in large-scale vegetable farming due to risks associated with perishability. However, continuous training and market insights revealed vast market opportunities. I now invest in year[1]round vegetable production,” he said.
Last season, Echoku cultivated tomatoes on half an acre and earned sh900,000.
After setting aside 20% for sustainability and labour costs, he remained with sh300,000.
He attributes his improved harvests to good agronomic practices and using quality vegetable seeds.
Joshua Mwanguhya, the country manager at EWS-KT, emphasised that their approach enhances the entire vegetable value chain, benefiting producers and consumers alike.
“We want to help forge a robust connection between vegetable input dealers and farmers to ensure access to quality inputs, while enhancing market linkages between farmers and market actors,” he explained.
Mwanguhya underscored the importance of collaborations in driving sustainable change.
“We believe that partnering with like-minded organisations allows us to maximise impact and reach more farmers,” he emphasised.
Orijabo Philam, the LC3 chairperson for Omugo sub-county, hailed the intervention as a timely solution for West Nile farmers.
“Tobacco was once the major cash crop, but with many companies closing, this posed a serious economic threat. This project has filled the gap, offering farmers a profitable alternative through commercial vegetable farming,” he stated.
By empowering farmers, strengthening value chains and enhancing local capacities, this initiative is not only fostering agricultural growth, but also securing a brighter future for communities in Westnile.
Beneficiary speaks out
James Nyakuni, another beneficiary, improved his vegetable production after participating in training under the Uganda Intergovernmental Fiscal Transfers Programme (UgIFT).
This programme brought together farmer trainers, agricultural professionals and agro-input dealers to enhance vegetable production.
“Applying the skills I learned opened up great opportunities. The project complemented the UgIFT small-scale irrigation initiative, enabling year-round vegetable farming as a business,” Nyakuni said.
LEAD PHOTO CAPTION: Afarmer displays a pumpkin harvested from her farm.
