Market-Oriented Agricalture Development
Agriculture is the mainstay of Uganda's economy and people's livelihoods.
It accounts for more than 80% the country's foreign exchange and more than 90% of the population depends directly on agriculture for its food and subsistence incomes.
Thus, agriculture is central to SLINT-Uganda's mission and objectives of alleviating poverty, promoting food insecurity and fostering environmental sustainability.
SLINT's strategic interventions include the following:
| Enhancement of crop and animal productivity. | Assisting farmers to sustainably increase crop and animal (livestock, poultry, honey and fisheries) productivity through: (a) Facilitating access to new and improved crop varieties/ animal breeds and agricultural inputs/ farm implements; (b) Training farmers in improved farming techniques, effective pest and disease control to minimise production losses, appropriate soil and water conservation practices, integrated soil fertility management, environmentally and economically sustainable application of agrochemicals; (c) Promoting the adoption of appropriate technologies, and (d) Fostering efficient farm management systems. |
| Fostering improved food security and nutrition. | Educating and assisting farmers to adopt effective strategies and plans to produce and stock adequate supplies of foodstuffs to meet the basic domestic dietary and nutritional needs at all times, including: (a) establishment of efficient domestic-level food storage systems, (b) diversification of food sources including consumption of "minor "but highly nutritious foods (e.g. wild fruits, vegetables and tubers), (c) awareness seminars and workshops on food security and nutrition. |
| Minimizing post-harvest losses, maximizing quality and adding value to agricultural produce. | Educating and supporting farmers to optimise post-harvest processing, handling and storage, including through: (a) training in efficient processing and appropriate handling practices for different agricultural products, (b) facilitation of access to improved storage facilities and (c) training in effective quality control systems and technologies, and (d) promoting value-addition including through small-scale agro-processing. |
| Development of the farmers' skills and capacities. | Assisting farmers to improve their agricultural production and apply sustainable agricultural practices through: (a) provision or facilitation of access to extension services, (b) organization of study tours and farmer-exchanges, (c) organization of training workshops and (d) facilitation of timely access to relevant information. |
| Catalyzing the establishment or strengthening of Farmers' Associations/ Cooperatives | Mobilizing and supporting farmers to organise themselves into farmer groups or cooperatives in order to maximise the economies of scale, for example in terms bulk production for big markets, collective transportation of agricultural produce (especially for perishable products, e.g. fruits, vegetables, milk, eggs, etc) to the market and the collective purchase of farm inputs and services. |
