Agricultural Empowerment for Rural Farmers

AGAALI AWAMU FAMERS FIELD SCHOOL-AAFF

This group was formed and trained by Cosma since 2015 to improve rural credit financing for farmers. The group is a composition of farmers from Nakasenyi parish in Mateete sub county, Sembabule District in Uganda.

The executive leaders of this group conduct a weekly money saving schedule from 78 members of the group. On this basis Cosma provides recapitalization micro loans and agricultural supply to aid their investment in agriculture production.

In the recent village cooperative micro-lending the group applied for micro loan up to 10 million Ugx ($2780), however under limited resource, Cosma was only able to finance 50% equivalent to 5million ugx.($1388)

In addition to this direct cash financing, the group has also received up to 40 kgs of improved maize seeds out of 200 kgs applied for.

In the previous season, the group was able to produce upto 5 metric tons, out of which 1 metric tons was bought by Cosma for improved market access

‘Since we started partnership with Cosma with Cosma, members of our group have diversified their income through investment in Livestock farming (pigs, dairy cows, goats and chicken), they improved their commercial production of maize and beans which has boosted their food security as well as improved income generation for their families’ quoted as verbatim from the group Chairperson

The members of the group have successful been able to take their children to schools and amidst economic hardships.

where as the above success prevails, the challenges still exists as follows;

Tough climate changes affecting their productivity at the farm

Limited resources from Cosma in terms of limited seeds, fertilizers and cash financing to help different members invest in diversified investments especially livestock farming.

On the basis of AAFFS and over 28 active village cooperatives  accomodating over 3000 farmers, we would like to appeal to more partner support to reach more imapactful deliverables to such groups to improved food security and incomes generation in the region