Across Uganda’s Teso Sub-region, smallholder farmers are reaping the rewards of better access to markets and improved farming methods. Among them is Paulina Apolot, a 40-year-old mother of six and Chairperson of the Asamuk Onguny Oil Seed Cooperative in Amuria District. In 2024, she harvested 40 bags of groundnuts from her five-acre farm, her highest yield to date.
The sale brought in UGX 6 million, enough to pay school fees for all her children who had been sent home months earlier due to financial hardship. “My children had been sent home for lack of school fees, but with the support of AWAN, I was able to take them back to school,” Paulina says with pride.
Her story illustrates how targeted support from the African Women Agribusiness Network (AWAN), in partnership with SOCADIDO and DanChurchAid (DCA), is helping farmers across the region improve productivity, access reliable buyers, and increase their household incomes.
Strengthening farmers through skills and better seeds
Before joining the project, Paulina farmed small plots using traditional methods that produced little beyond what her family could eat. Like many farmers in Teso, she faced low yields, poor-quality produce, and no access to formal markets.
That changed when her cooperative was selected under AWAN’s market access initiative, part of the Market Access Project for Smallholder Farmers (MAPS), in partnership with DanChurchAid, funded by Danida. Through this partnership, farmers received hands-on training in climate-smart agriculture, post-harvest handling, and business management, as well as access to improved Selenat 14 groundnut seeds aligned with the needs of formal buyers.
Additionally, the training gave farmers practical knowledge to improve quality and consistency in production, essential for linking them to structured markets.
“As AWAN, we are a network of over 300 women-led agribusinesses, processors, traders, and exporters,” explains Joyce Atuhaire, Executive Director of AWAN. “We came together to empower smaller women farmers so they can also benefit from the opportunities that already exist in agribusiness.”
Organising for market power
To ensure sustainability and collective bargaining strength, AWAN helped establish five cooperatives across the Teso Sub-region, ensuring that at least 60% of members were women. By working as organised groups, farmers were able to produce in bulk, meet buyer demands, and negotiate better prices.
“For a market access system to work well, there have to be volumes and consistency in production. Organising women into cooperatives made it easier to achieve this,” says Joyce.
This approach quickly paid off. During the last farming season, the cooperatives collectively produced and sold 15,000 kilograms of groundnuts and soybeans to reliable buyers. The system gave smallholder farmers visibility in formal markets that had previously been out of reach.
Farming as a business, not survival
For Paulina, the change has been profound. The additional income from her harvest not only restored her children’s education but also strengthened her confidence as both a mother and community leader.
“I am now financially independent and can take care of myself without depending entirely on my husband,” she says. “AWAN has brought us together and promoted unity among women. I am proud to lead and inspire others to believe that change is possible.”
Her leadership has inspired many in her cooperative to treat farming as a business rather than a subsistence activity. She credits her husband’s support for her success, an uncommon gesture in a community where women’s leadership in farming groups is often discouraged. “I thank my husband for allowing me to lead. Without his support, I wouldn’t be where I am today,” Paulina adds.
Addressing barriers and building a better future
While progress is visible, structural challenges remain, particularly land ownership. Many women in rural Uganda do not own land, which limits their ability to expand or invest in commercial farming. AWAN is tackling this by piloting group farming initiatives, where women jointly access and cultivate land for collective gain.
“Women often don’t own land. We are now working on group farming so they can grow as teams. It’s a work in progress, but each year we are improving,” Joyce explains.
The project continues to connect farmers to diverse buyers, including export companies, agro-processors, supermarkets, and institutional clients such as schools and relief agencies. These linkages provide stable markets and steady income opportunities for farmers who previously depended on unpredictable middlemen.
A Future of Possibilities
Paulina dreams of expanding her farm, improving her home, and mentoring other women in her cooperative to embrace modern farming practices.
“All this came at the right time,” she says softly. “We are grateful to AWAN for uplifting us from poverty and giving our children a chance to stay in school.”
Her journey reflects the growing impact of coordinated market access initiatives in Uganda, proof that when farmers are equipped with the right knowledge, tools, and networks, they can turn small plots into sustainable livelihoods.
About this Project
- Project period: January 2024 – December 2026
- Donor: Danida
- Theme: Building Resilient Communities
