FIELD REPORT FOR SN4A ON MARKET LINKAGE MEETINGS

IN KASESE, KYENJOJO & KAKUMIRO DISTRICTS.

HELD FROM TUESDAY 29TH – THURSDAY 31ST JANUARY, 2019

FACILITATED BY AGRIPROFOCUS UGANDA.

CONVENER:

FACILITATOR:

1.0 Background:

The market linkages meeting was organised by SNV Sustainable Nutrition for All (SN4A) project with an aim of linking farmers to sustainable markets. The project, aims at improving nutrition outcomes through agro biodiversity and dietary diversity at household level. This to be achieved through increased production and taking the balance for market to enable farmers to buy what they can’t produce in order to meet their all nutritional requirements. Using triggering sessions SNV conducted training sessions about Farming as a Business in these respective Districts. It was clearly understood that Agricultural practices and diet choices of these farming communities largely affect child growth, health and nutrition. As a result, the participating farm communities decided to take action by; improving their nutrition sensitivity through; increased crop production, improved storage and processing techniques, and access to quality inputs and reliable markets. This however; would not be achieved if they don’t specifically select commodities to help them focus. Therefore; they selected specific commodities to which they would put their energy in order to achieve increased production and improved nutrition health. These commodities included the following; Maize, Beans, Cabbages, Onions, Carrots and Irish Potatoes. 1.1 Objectives: These Market Linkage meetings were therefore aimed at;

● Identifying the potential quality input suppliers and reliable commodity buyers

● Increasing the value proposition the farmers get from collective production and marketing

● Promoting free interactions between producers, buyers and input dealers to discuss specific

business opportunities.

1.2 Outputs/short term indicators: 1. Number of farmers/traders who get connected for potential business opportunities 2. Change in farm get price as a result of collective marketing 3. Farmers motivated to increase production

1.4 Outcomes/long term indicators:

● Number of farmer groups formed ● Increased production and productivity at community level (size of acreage) ● Increased quality of commodities produced by farmers ● Improved nutrition status through increased incomes realised and good feeding habits 2.0 Participants:

2.1 Category

a) Government:

These meetings attracted officials from the District and sub counties especially; Production and

Marketing officers, Agricultural officers, Commercial officers, agronomists, chiefs, Community

Development officers, Health assistants and LCs.

b) Traders: National and local traders attended the meetings and these included; buyers, agro-input

dealers. For example; traders from the National level included; Dynapharm International, Aponye,

Innovation Africa Ltd, AFGRI, and Mr. Kasoma Samuel (Chairperson-Nakasero, Bwaise and Nakawa

Markets). Those from the local level included; Orit John Enterprises, Byaruhanga Peter Enterprises,

Nuru Kiiza Enterprises and Africa Commodities.

c) Farmers: a cross section of farmer representatives attended the meetings and these included;

Lead nutrition group members, influential farmers, science teachers and head teachers

2.2 Aggregated participation in all Districts (Kasese, Kyenjojo and Kakumiro)

Category Female Male Total

Government 08 (35%) 15 (65%) 23

Traders 04 (31%) 09 (69%) 13

Farmers 49 (28%) 125 (72%) 174

Grand total 61 (29%) 149 (71%) 210

Note: there is generally still low participation of female in market related discussions as evidenced

by the figures above.

3.0 Deal made and follow ups:

● Dynapharm International ltd, which provides organic folic fertilizers registered 60 orders

from farmers who want to be supplied with organic fertilizers (Kasese-30, Kyenjonjo-20

and Kakumiro-10).

● Innovation Africa ltd which provides solar powered pumps in the country, registered 6

orders from farmers who want to be supplied with solar powered pumps for small scale

farming (Kasese-03, Kyenjonjo-01 and Kakumiro-02).

● Aponye, a company that buys Maiz e and Beans in large volumes registered 22 farmers

who pledged to form themselves into an association for example; (Kyenjonjo-12 and

Kakumiro-10). These will translate into two farmer groups. Upon formation, APONYE will

then train them, provide them with quality maize seeds and fertilizers, collapsible driers

as well as a nearby collection centre to ease transportation of their commodities,

● Kasoma Samuel –the buyer of Gloria Cabbages, registered 6 farmers who are willing to

invest in mass production of Cabbages (Gloria type). The unique thing with these

farmers, is that they promised to join forces. (4 farmers in Kyenjonjo and 2 farmers in

Kakumiro)

● African Commodities, this is a buyer of Maize in large volumes and has maize stores. He

registered 10 farmers who will sell to him maize.

● Orit John Enterprises, this is a buyer of maize in Kasese with two large scale milling

machines, 15 maize farmers to supply maize to this company

● Nuru Kiza Enterprises, this is an agent of APONYE ltd, who buys from farmers. She will be

the one to conduct trainings on-behalf of APONYE.

● Byaruhanga Peter Enterprises, this is a large buyer of Irish Potatoes in Kyenjojo and he

registered 3 farmers of Irish potatoes

4.0 Next steps/follow ups

● Government promised to bring 100 bags of Irish seeds (Victoria, Rwangume and Kachpot series). These will be distributed through SNV to the organised farmers said Mr. Tsumbira Edson, District Agricultural officer-Kyenjojo

● Farmers to form themselves into associations

● Farmers to make an effort and maintain quality in order to tap into the large market opportunities

● Farmers to practice agronomic practices and use organic fertilizers

● Farmers to carry out field visits to successful farms for learning and improving their farms as well

● Farmers to select quality seeds

Quotes from farmers:

Alikomamu Titus

‘I think today has been my special day, am going to specialise and seek for market’.

Kyomuhendo Wilson

‘I have learnt the importance of being in groups, am going to start a group for my NAG members and we are going to specialise in Irish potato production. Thank you so much SNV for this event today’

Paul Katuramu Parish chief

Learning does not end. Am also going to specialise my production focusing on Maize and Irish potatoes with much emphasis on fertilizer usage. Trust me we are going to make profits’.

5.0 What did not go well, commodities like Onions, Carrots did not have traders to attend. This was

because, Nakasero being the largest buyer/consumer of Carrots and Onions prefers buying carrots

from Kenya and onions from Ntungamo and Kapchorwa. The argument is that; Carrots grown in

Uganda do not have a long shelf life. Adding that they are too short and soft thus can easily rot.

Regarding Onions, it is said that; most onions are harvested when young and can easily rot. So they

refused to come with us to Kasese, Kyenjojo and Kakumiro because they felt it would be a waste o of

time.

6.0 Recommendations:

● To conduct follow up meetings after this season (Feb-June) and establish if actually the

initiated business deals were actualised

● To encourage more potential large buyers to invest in preparing farmers on best practices

for maintaining quality and standards, otherwise many farmers were found to be making a

lot of pre- and post-harvest loses

● To encourage contract farming between traders and farmers

An input dealer receiving cash from a farmer for having bought D.I Grow fertilizer

Photo Garrally

Figure 1. Innovation Africa staff explaining how a solar

powered pump works

Figure 2. A maize buyer from John Orit Enterprise,

registering farmers for a deal

Figure 3. A distributor from Dynapharm Explain how D.I

can boost crop production

Let me

see!

Figure 4. A maize buyer (2nd left) in business talks with farmers in Kakumiro