The Issue
Uganda remains one of the poorest countries in the world, with over 12.3 million people living below the poverty line. At the same time, the Teso Sub-Region is one of the poorest sub-regions in Uganda, with multi-dimensional poverty of 55.6%.
Many smallholder farmers continue to live in poverty because their farming activities are often characterised by subsistence production of low-quality produce, limiting their access to markets in national, regional, and export value chains.
Smallholder farmers in the region lack the economies of scale, have low awareness of the market demand, and have insufficient knowledge about the production practices required to meet market standards. As a result, 70% of smallholder farmers are unable to access formal markets to sell their produce.
The Project
Alongside national partners, DCA aims to increase the household incomes of smallholder farmers by supporting smallholder farmers to access formal markets. The project addresses production, market-level level and enabling environment risks that affect smallholder farmers’ access to formal markets. Farmers will be supported in applying climate-smart and ecologically adaptive farming practices, meeting specific quality standards, and formalizing their value-added products. In addition, formal buyers require regular and high volumes of produce, so smallholders have to be well organised in Producer groups.
The intervention links farmers to a wide range of formal markets such as export companies, local agro-processing companies and other markets such as supermarkets, fast food chains, and hotels; and institutions such as schools, and relief programs.
A lead farmer model will be used, where 45 lead farmers will be facilitated to capacitate more farmers doing the same enterprise. The farmers will be provided with cottage equipment, linked to proper inputs and post-harvest handling materials, skills, and training in organic and agroecological practices and market standards.
The Change
The project aims to increase the production of organic produce for a number of households. At the same time, the project seeks to strenghten the market access for the smallholder farmers, while also making sure that they have access to quality business development services.
The end goal is to increase the household incomes among smallholder farmers engaged in organic production.
The Partner
DCA works with African Women Agri-Business Network Uganda (AWAN Uganda) to implement the project. AWAN Uganda is a membership-based enterprise support organization advancing women entrepreneurs, women-owned SMEs, producer groups, and cooperatives through stronger market systems.
About the project
Title: Market Access Project for Smallholder Farmers (MAPS)
Period: January 2024 – December 2026
National partner: AWAN Uganda
Amount: DKK 870,000
Donor: Danida
