LAUNCH OF FOUR PROJECTS WORTH EUROS 84 MILLION TO SUPPORT SMALLHOLDER FARMERS THROUGH COOPERATIVES/ Fos IN UGANDA

 H.E. Frederieke Quispel, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and a representative of Uganda Minister of Agriculture, Animal  Industry and Fisheries during the launch.

On Thursday November 14, 2024, the Netherlands Embassy in Uganda launched four (4) projects aimed at supporting smallholder farmers in Uganda through cooperatives and farmer groups.  The launch was made by H.E. Frederieke Quispel, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands together with a representative of the Uganda Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries. These projects are aimed at improving food and nutrition security, sustainable land use, and increased incomes for farmers in Uganda.The four projects all valued at 84 million Euros include:

Farmer Organizations for Rural Transformation (FORT) Project

The Farmer Organizations for Rural Transformation (FORT) Project will empower 200,000 rural households by strengthening 60 agricultural cooperatives, 60 Savings and credit cooperatives and 180 farmer groups to become centers of service for smallholder farmers across 27 districts in Uganda.

H.E, the Ambassador making her remarks during the launch

Building Resilience and Inclusive Growth of Highland Farming Systems for Rural Transformation (BRIGHT)

It is a four-year project implemented by IFDC. It will reach more than 100,000 households in Kigezi, Elgon, and Rwenzori regions. The project aims to improve food and nutrition security, sustainable land use, and increased incomes for farmers in these regions.

CommonGround, is a four-year project implemented by Wageningen Environment Research (WENR) – Wageningen University.

The project will build resilient farmer communities and watersheds in Kigezi, Elgon, and Rwenzori highland regions of Uganda. Using Participatory Integrated Planning, the project will reach 150,000 households to promote resilient farming systems, watershed restoration, and improved marketing of agricultural produce.

                                                                  Delegates during the launch

Dairy-Horticulture Credit Limited (DHCL Fund)

It is a 10-year project implemented by Pearl Capital Partners (PCP). The project aims to enable 12,000 dairy and horticulture farmers to obtain credit finance through their SACCOs. The DHCL Fund is operational in all regions of Uganda and has unveiled a credit facility fund totalling $6.4 million, supported by the Netherlands embassy. The fund aims to provide assistance to smallholder farmers in the dairy and horticulture value chains through a range of access to finance initiatives.

EMPOWERING TANZANIA'S YOUTH THROUGH COOPERATIVES

                                                                     Empowering the Youth through cooperatives in Tanzania

The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group on 20 September 2024 approved a $129.71 million loan to Tanzania for the implementation of a youth-focused agribusiness program.

The loan will fund the first phase of the “Building a Better Tomorrow: Youth Initiatives for Agribusiness” program, which aims to create business opportunities and jobs for young people in key agricultural sectors.

The total cost of the project is estimated at $241.27 million. In addition to the Bank's loan, which covers 53,76 percent of the cost, the funding package includes grants of $1.15 million from the Korea-Africa Economic Cooperation (KOAFEC) Trust Fund and $210,000 from tropical vegetable seed firm East-West Seed. The Tanzanian government will provide $110.41 million, representing 45.76 percent of the total. (2024)

A WOMEN FARMERS’ COOPERATIVE ON A MISSION TO DECREASE HUNGER IN NIGERIA

A group of women farmers in Nigeria play a pivotal role in lessening hunger and increasing income levels in their community of Likoro, a village in Kudan, Kaduna State. Led by Rabi Attah Habibu, members of the Likoro Women Farmers’ Cooperative  grow maize, soybeans and rice to feed their own families and sell to others. Habibu began the group to ease hunger and malnutrition in her own community. Nigeria faces  high levels of food insecurity, with an estimated 26 million people (about 12 percent of the population) experiencing hunger due to low farm productivity, increased flooding because of climate change, soaring costs and restricted access to food because of violent conflict and displacement. The cooperative’s success has been boosted through a partnership with Thrive Agric, a company providing technology and other services to aid African farmers. The West Africa Trade and Investment Hub(opens in new window), funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), awarded a $1.9 million co-investment grant to Thrive Agric to support its initiative to help smallholder farmers in Nigeria. The Trade Hub partners with private-sector companies such as Thrive Agric to improve food security using a market-based approach.

SUPPORTING AGRICULTURAL COOPERATIVES TO RAISE SMALL HOLDER FARMER INCOME.

In partnership with USAID/Kenya, DFC has provided a $17.3 million loan portfolio guaranty to two Kenyan banks, including Co-operative Bank of Kenya, to help Kenya’s agriculture cooperatives access financing to support their members. DFC’s loan portfolio guaranty, which serves as a form of third-party collateral, has enabled Co-operative Bank of Kenya to provide a loan to Mwea Rice Growers. With this loan, the cooperative was able to purchase the entirety of its members’ rice paddy, which it processed at its own mill, and is sold at a premium. In addition to then returning profits to its member farmers, Mwea Rice Growers was able to grow its staff and increase local economic activity.

KENYA TO LICENSE COFFEE COOPERATIVES AS EXPORT AGENTS IN BID TO BOOST FARMERS’ INCOME