Posted on May, 26, 2016 at 09:28 am
By Miriam Kabagunga
One Acre Fund, a nonprofit agriculture organisation that supplies smallholder farmers with financing and training, has officially opened its operations in Uganda.
Initially launched as a pilot in 2014, it now serves 400,000 smallholder farmers--with an estimated two million people in those households--across East and Southern Africa.
Serve many farmers
"This is an exciting time as we expand services to smallholder farmers in Uganda," said Zishan Jiwani, the country manager, One Acre Fund. "We have learned so much from the farmers in our pilot programme and we hope to serve as many farmers as we can in the coming years."
Flexible system
Participating farmers will receive a bundle of agricultural inputs and services on credit.
These include seeds and fertiliser, training on how to maximise crop yields and minimise post-harvest losses.
Through a flexible system, farmers may make loan repayments in any amount and at any time as long as they complete by end of the season.
The loan package ranges from Shs120,000 to Shs325,000 for new members.
Returning members from pilot programmes may register for loans ranging from Shs120,000 to Shs582,000. The services are available to farmers in selected areas of Jinja and Kamuli districts.
"I want my son to have university education, and with these harvests I now think that is possible," said Christine Namazzi, a smallholder farmer in Kamuli District.
Insurance cover
The farmers receive maize, soya and bean seed and fertiliser delivered to a central point in their village.
The loan package also provides farmers with insurance for drought and funerals, and includes weekly in-person agricultural trainings.
Farmers also have the option to receive additional products on credit, including solar lights and tarpaulins for drying harvests in the sun. Every farmer will have access to a field officer.
Founded in 2006 in western Kenya, One Acre Fund works with more than 400,000 smallholder farmers in Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Malawi, and Uganda. It is anticipated that there will be one million farmers by 2020.
Source: The Monitor