Transforming Uganda's Agriculture

The agricultural landscape of Uganda was targeted for transformation back in 2011. It was the Uganda Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (UFAAS) that was tasked with this mission, and it was given a particular focus on topics including policy, youth engagement, food security, and climate-smart agriculture. It aimed to bring in an era of innovation and efficiency across agricultural advisory services.

The Nokia Farming Agricultural Innovation Platform

UFAAS: The Catalyst for Change

The agricultural extension system across many countries in Africa, including Uganda, underwent a dramatic transformation with the introduction of NAADS, the National Agricultural Advisory Services Act. This shifted the public extension system to a more privatized one. It was the goal of this act to improve upon the status quo, which often saw a single extension professional serving as many as 2,000 farmers.

Advocating Professionalism and Ethical Standards

Proactive steps were taken early on by UFAAS to set professional and ethical standards in this space. The objective was to promote professionalism and ethics in the agricultural extension and advisory system in Uganda. These efforts proved successful in 2017 when they were invited to support the development of essential documents such as Extension Guidelines, an Ethical Code of Conduct, and more. The documents were eventually approved by the management team of the Ministry for Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries. This was a significant milestone and a notable achievement.

Supporting Youth in Agriculture

Engaging the young people of Uganda in agriculture is one of the key targets of UFAAS. Youth unemployment rates across Uganda are high and much of the country faces food security challenges. The need to bridge the gap and connect unemployed youth to agricultural career opportunities was obvious. Unfortunately, several challenges persisted.

1. Changing Perceptions: Young people commonly see agriculture as being “dirty work” and not a reasonable long-term career option.

2. Resource Constraints: It’s difficult for anyone interested in agriculture to acquire everything that is needed to get started, including land, resources, and capital.

3. Lack of Exposure: Many of the young people in Uganda had very little exposure to agriculture and didn’t understand the basics of the industry.

The NOFAIP-UFAAS Partnership

UFAAS’s efforts can perhaps be best seen in the case of the Nokia Farming Agricultural Innovation Platform, or NOFAIP. Less than 20 members were a part of the program initially in 2010, but it quickly grew to over 300 members in just seven years. When NOFAIP decided to join UFAAS as dues-paying members, it marked a meaningful shift and unlocked a tremendous amount of knowledge and resources.

UFAAS's Approach: Training and Support

UFAAS's collaboration with NOFAIP followed a well-structured approach:

1. Understanding Needs: Authentic engagement with NOFAIP enables UFAAS to fully understand their requirements and what they need to thrive.

2. Assessing Capabilities: It was not only necessary to evaluate current capabilities, but also to understand desired capabilities that were not held at the time.

3. Identifying Resources: NOFAIP members were provided access to valuable training materials and resources.

4. Coordinating Training: Training opportunities were created to empower NOFAIP members with the latest skills and practices.

5. Ongoing Support: A steady support system was established so that NOFAIP members could receive the help they needed, even as those needs changed over time.

6. Knowledge Exchange: A collection of best practices was created through a collaboration with NOFAIP leadership, serving to enhance future training.

Impact on NOFAIP and Ugandan Youth

There can be little doubt as to the impact of NOFAIP. The organization has been successful by any measure, with 84 of the more than 300 members actively involved in agriculture. Many different services are available, including crop spraying, plowing, planting, weeding, irrigation, fertilizing, threshing, and many more. The benefit of the support of UFAAS is clear when looking at the case study of how NOFAIP has flourished.

Quite quickly, the young people in NOFAIP have become a powerful force in the field. They have valuable skills, and have produced higher yields through using updated agricultural practices. As one example, these young professionals have been able to identify and address threats like the citrus canker to prevent whole crops from being devastated.

The Bigger Picture

The UFAAS is playing a commendable role in tapping into the potential of the youth of Uganda. It has also driven notable agricultural development in the country. This case study highlights the value found in training, empowerment, and knowledge exchange across the agricultural sector. Nations across the African continent can learn from the example that Uganda is setting in building a platform on which a sustainable agricultural framework can be built.

I've included a copy of the research below if you are interested in learning more. Please be sure to include your thoughts and input in the comments below.

UFAAS_Youth.pdf

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Lamm, K. W., Lamm, A. J., Mulvaney, C., Davis, K., Masambuka, F., & Nahdy, S. (2021). Model of success: Extension services helping Ugandan youth find a career in agriculture. Journal of International Agricultural and Extension Education, 28(3), 7-13.