Lira, Uganda.
The Uganda Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (UFAAS) joined local partners Facilitation for Innovative Actions and Sustainable Development (FINASP) and Lira District Local Government to commission the ‘Global Programme for Small-scale Agroecology Producers and Sustainable Food Systems Transformation Project (GP-SAEP) in the Northern and Eastern Uganda districts of Lira and Soroti, respectively.
The commissioning event took place in Lira on 15th May 2024, and was graced by the Lira Assistant Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Hon. Ayo Proscovia Otyek, the District Production Officer, Mr. Thomas Okello, the Chief Administrative Officer, Mr. Ogwayu Emmanuel Peter, the Vice Chairperson LC5, Mr Omara Bonny, and UFAAS members in the Lango sub-region, Master Trainers and Rural Advisory Service (RAS) providers, Access Agriculture, and representatives of the UFAAS Board and Secretariat.
The event, which was marked by project information, appreciation speeches, and commitments by the project partners, signaled a significant stride towards fostering sustainable farming practices and addressing food insecurity in the Lango and Teso Sub-regions.
Hon. Ayo Proscovia Otyek, Assistant RDC, Lira District
The district leaders underscored the project’s alignment with the Uganda national priorities of combating hunger and promoting agricultural commercialization and pledged to support the project.
In her remarks, the RDC emphasized the crucial role that the GP-SAEP agroecology project will play in achieving national objectives, highlighting its potential to transform agriculture and lift rural communities out of poverty. She said that her office would provide publicity and awareness of project activities to the masses
“Our office has airtime on all the radio stations in Lira. We are ready to support communication and community awareness on agroecology and GP-SAEP project activities through talk shows,” said Hon. Ayo.
The CEO of UFAAS, Mrs Beatrice Luzobe elaborated on the project’s objectives, emphasizing its focus on enhancing the capacity of rural advisory services to disseminate information on agroecology effectively.
“The GP-SAEP will equip rural advisory service providers with the necessary resources and knowledge of agroecology, this will catalyze agricultural productivity and resilience to various agricultural shocks across Lira District,” says Mrs Luzobe.
She also said that at least 600 farmers will be supported to transition to agroecology through participatory rural advisory services (RAS). According to Mrs Luzobe, the project will be implemented in a total of five Districts in Uganda, namely: Bugiri in Eastern Uganda, Buikwe and Sembabule in Central Uganda, Lira in Northern Uganda, and Soroti in North Eastern Uganda.
Representing the UFAAS Board, Vice Chairperson Dr Richard Miiro urged the Master Trainers and Rural Advisory Service (RAS) providers to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and integrity in a bid to bring back the glory of the extension profession. Emphasizing the importance of ethical conduct in extension services, he stressed the need for extension workers to earn the trust and respect of the farming communities.
“As you undertake this assignment that GP SAEP has offered, please bring back the standards and ethics of conducting extension” said Dr Richard Miiro.
The RDC challenged the extension service providers to practice what they preach by establishing demonstration gardens as practical learning hubs for farmers. 
About the GP-SAEP Project:
The Global Forum for Rural Advisory Services (GFRAS) is implementing an Agroecology project in close collaboration with International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). The project called ‘Global Programme for Small-scale Agroecology Producers and Sustainable Food Systems Transformation (GP-SAEP)’ is part of the larger funding envelope provided by the European Commission (EC) and the Belgian Development Cooperation, aiming at addressing key barriers for scaling up agroecology and the transition to sustainable food systems for small-scale producers in Africa and Latin America & the Caribbean. The overall GP-SAEP started in the first quarter of 2023 and will run until June 2026.
The Programme is structured around four components. Component 1) Improving access to inputs including seeds, bio-inputs and mechanical equipment; Component 2) Increasing value addition and markets for agroecological producers; Component 3) Enhancing Rural Advisory Services (RAS) and farmer-to-farmer joint learning for small-scale producers in transition to agroecology; and Component 4) Improving Economic and Financial Analysis of investments (EFA+) tools to assess the impact and benefit of investments in rural agri-food sector.
About UFAAS:
Uganda Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (UFAAS) is the country chapter of the African Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (AFAAS) in Uganda. It is a forum that brings together a wide range of actors involved in Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services (AEAS) in Uganda. UFAAS was launched in May 2011 and is registered in Uganda. AFAAS is the umbrella network organisation for AEAS in Africa. It operates within the framework of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), with a focus to Pillar IV.
For correspondence, please contact:
Ms Beatrice Luzobe, Chief Executive Officer, UFAAS
Email: ufaas2013@gmail.com
Article written by Elizabeth Asiimwe; CIKM, UFAAS