Farmers under the Right to Access Affordable Water Harvesting for Smallholder Farmers in Uganda and Tanzania (RIWAH) project have hosted an international learning and exchange visit in Ruteete Sub- County, Kagadi District, bringing together farmers and representatives from partner organisations to share experiences and practical lessons on organic farming and affordable water-harvesting technologies.
The exchange visit, hosted by the Uganda Rural Development and Training Programme (URDT), brought together representatives from seven organisations under the ESFROMA partnership: Caritas Kampala, URDT, Great Lakes Organic Farmers Association (GLOFA), Kilimo Organic Farmers Learning Center (KOFLEC), Organic Denmark, Tanzania Organic Agriculture Movement (TOAM), and The Association of Vegetable and Fruit Growers of Zanzibar (UWAMWIMA).
The team visited the homes and farms of Justus Kalegeya in Nyakashema B and Faustino Byarugaba in Rubona Village, both in Ruteete Sub- County. The visits provided an opportunity for participating farmers to observe practical applications of rainwater harvesting, organic farming and other climate-resilient agricultural practices.
According to Kembabazi Margret, RIWA Project Coordinator at URDT, the project is being implemented seven sub counties of Kagadi district, where more than 210 households have been supported to adopt rainwater-harvesting technologies. The project targets to empower 400 households that makes 20 FFLGs. “The farmers are using these technologies on their farms to improve food security, provide water for livestock and crops, and build resilience to climate change,” Margret explained.
She noted that farmer-to-farmer exchange visits are an important component of the project because they enable farmers to learn directly from one another. She added that the current exchange is particularly significant because it brings together partners and farmers from both Uganda and Tanzania, creating an opportunity for cross-border learning and sharing of experiences.
Baguma Apollo, ESFROMA Coordinator at URDT, said the three-year project is designed to increase food security among smallholder farmer families participating in 100 Farmer Family Learning Groups (FFLGs) and improve access to water for crops and livestock.
He explained that the project also supports the development of local adaptation plans that include practical actions for improving water access for smallholder farmers, with low-cost water-harvesting technologies identified as one of the solutions.
“Water access for smallholder farmers and water-harvesting technologies as a solution have, at district government level, been targeted in the process of developing local adaptation plans,” Baguma said.
For farmers like Justus Kalegeya, a member of the Nyakashema Tukolerehamwe FFLG, the exchange visit reflects the transformation that can occur when farmers are supported with practical knowledge and appropriate technologies.
Kalegeya applauded URDT for supporting rural farmers with modern and organic farming technologies, saying these practices have contributed to improved health, household food security, income and knowledge among farmers. He said members of his FFLG have also embraced the Visionary Approach, with each member developing a family vision and working towards achieving it.
According to Kalegeya, the process has contributed to positive changes within the community, with members working towards making Nyakashema a model village in Kagadi District by 2030.
The farmers further acknowledged URDT’s contribution to rural transformation through various initiatives aimed at improving household livelihoods, strengthening food security, promoting sustainable agriculture and building the resilience of rural communities.
