CLOSURE OF CLIMATE SMART AGRICULTURE TECHNOLOGY SCALING PROJECT BENEFITING COFFEE FARMERS IN MBALE.

Mbale District 

Namukowa Bernard(AO)

After the inception of this project  in 2020, during the tenure of 4 years,the national agriculture research organisation(NARO/NACORI) with partnership from the International institute of tropical agriculture(IITA),has today marked  the end of this project in Mbale district with a lot of successful stories from beneficiary farmers,and extension workers after a long intervention  highlighting resilient and adaptive agricultural livelihoods in the district.

On behalf of the district, DCAO  Madam Juliet cheptoyeki appreciated the partners for steering this project in the coffee growing subcounties of mbale District. 

She was optimistic that the project has benefited the farmers but showed dismay because the project is coming to an end.She requested the extension workers to closely work with the farmers and ensure sustainability of the technologies that have been transferred to the beneficiaries and also upscale to other areas where the project did not reach.She asked the secretariat for further support to the district in case they develop other projects since agriculture is the backbone to middle income by 2040.

She related that the population growth as being rapid and this needs support from the government and developing partners on mindset and technological advancements. The program funded by the defunct USAID  FEED THE FUTURE program  targeted beneficiaries in coffee growing sub counties of Budwale, Bufumbo, Jewa, Bubyangu, and Busano.
Though coffee was the cash crop typically adopted to add the resilience,with men taking benefit during the harvest , women are now empowered to take part in the agriculture sector with hands on during the harvest.

This  meeting involved extension workers, coffee farmers, political leaders, and other stakeholders to reflect on the  performance, challenges and recommendations for future engagement. 

As the program ends in September, the partners are certain there are other areas to prioritise across the district and as NARO being a government body,they will always support the district production department in various interventions to ensure productivity and profitability in order to achieve the middle income status for our farmers.