Introduction:

The Uganda Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services-UFAAS is a professional network organisation that brings together Agricultural Advisory and Extension Services (AEAS) actors in Uganda. It is one of the 40 Country chapters of the Africa Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services- AFAAS. AFAAS is the umbrella network organisation for AEAS in Africa, and one of the continental fora under the Global Forum for Rural Advisory Services-GFRAS.
UFAAS, supported by GFRAS and AFAAS, is implementing an Agroecology project in Uganda. 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), being implemented between the first quarter of 2023 and end in June 2026. The goal of the project is transformation of food systems towards agroecology by enabling small-scale producers to strengthen their practices of agroecology, through better access to knowledge, support services, improved technologies and market outlets. Thereby, improving their resilience to climatic, environmental and socio-economic shocks and stressors as well as food and nutrition security and incomes. (See summary at YouTube video, for more details).

GFRAS in partnership with Access Agriculture and the youth network (YPARD) is responsible for Component 3, focusing on “Increasing Access to knowledge and Empowering 10,000 Small-Scale Farmers in Agroecological Transition through Participatory Rural Advisory Services (RAS) and Farmer to Farmer joint learning”.

The Component 3 is referred to as AATRAS (Accelerating Agroecological Transformation via Rural Advisory Services). The GFRAS regional networks, AFAAS and RELASER and the targeted Country Fora (CF) in Uganda, Madagascar, Ecuador and Costa Rica are essential in the implementation of this component.

GP-SAEP in Uganda:

The project is being implemented in 5 districts, namely: Bugiri (Eastern Uganda), Buikwe (Central), Lira (Northern), Sembabule (Southern) and Soroti (Eastern). The co-implementing Rural Advisory Services Provider Organizations (RASPOs) in these districts are:

• Buikwe – Buikwe District Local Government
• Bugiri – Bugiri Agribusiness Institutions Development Association (BAIDA);
• Lira and Soroti – Facilitation for Innovations and Sus-tainable Productivity (FINASP);
• Sembabule – Sembabule District Local Government.

The Project Period:

From July 2023 to June 2026, though effective implementation at Country level started in January 2024. is being implemented in 5 districts, namely: Bugiri (Eastern Uganda), Buikwe (Central), Lira (Northern), Sembabule (Southern) and Soroti (Eastern).

Methodology and Approach:

The project focuses on the promotion of agroecology, but changing the approach of extension to be more geared towards co-creation of knowledge, and taking the local conditions and realities into consideration.
The two approaches being used are:

• The Farmers Field School (FFS)
• The Farm Family learning Group (FFLG)

Using the Peer Learning Team (PLT) and Learning Clusters Concept
This creates a support system among the implementing teams, in terms of:

• peer level moral support,
• joint planning, sharing of knowledge, sharing of re-sources,
• and use of collective wisdom

Field Work Teams:

62 agricultural professionals (90% youth, 34% Females) selected, trained and equipped to support field activities in different ways, while being guided by agro-ecology principles. These are:

• 5 Master trainers, who also act as UFAAS Regional Coordinators. These work with and supervise:
• 30 Rural Advisory Services Facilitators (RASFs) who are front-line extension officer;
• 5 YPARD youth fellows
• and 22 Access Agriculture Entrepreneurs for Rural Access (ERAs) who show farmer training videos

Targeted Farmers:

3,843 (58% Women and 33% youth), under a total of 133 farmers’ groups are currently targeted. These are directly reached by 30 RASFs in total, with an average extension: farmer ratio of 1:128. The current national ratio is 1:1,800.

Major Achievements to Date (by October 2025):

1. 5 (2F, 3M) Master Trainers were equipped with skills and methodologies to train and mentor RAS facilitators.
2. 30 (8F, 22M) RAS facilitators trained, to provide agroecology-related advisory services to the targeted farming communities.
3. 15,138 (8,801F, 6,337M) trained cumulatively, through 1,241 video and RAS training sessions.
4. Eight Agroecology innovations selected and being demonstrated for food and income security. Note: Adoption and results not yet.
   i. Black Solders Fly Lavae (BSFL): for improved poultry and pig feeding.
   ii. AZOLLA Weed: for improved animal feeding (Poultry, fish and rabbits).
   iii. Biochar: for soil structure improvement and health.
   iv. Bio-fertilisers and pesticides (natural concoctions) for improved soil fertility, plant and animal health.
   v. Kitchen gardens: for urban and peri-urban nutrition improvement.
   vi. Improved Stoves for energy conservation.
   vii. IMO-Indigenous Micro-organisms: for improved animal feeding and hygiene.
   viii. Improved Pasture: for improved animal feeding
5. The 4 RASPOs have been very handy and effective in hosting and supervising the project at Cluster level.
6. Overall 276 videos were translated under the project, by Access Agriculture into local languages of: Ateso (60), Luganda (70), Lusoga (60), Luo (46) and Runyakitara (40). The farmer videos have been a great game changer!
7. Two national workshops so far held for knowledge and experience sharing and learning and attended by all the national implementing practitioners. In 2024, 71 (24F,47M) and in 2025, 59 (16F, 43M).

Media files about GP-SAEP Project:

View more photos about the GP-SAEP Project, here:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/uqGzrAMBxaCfk55YA 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/MS9Eachpg9TjDxzm7 

Articles related to GP-SAEP:

https://ufaas-ugandacf.org/sharing-experiences-to-strengthen-agroecology-at-the-gpsaep-national-workshop-in-uganda/

https://ufaas-ugandacf.org/ufaas-agroecology-project-ignites-change-among-smallholders-in-soroti-and-buikwe-districts/

https://ufaas-ugandacf.org/ufaas-gpsaep-project-learning-event-kicks-off-in-teso-region-eastern-uganda/

https://ufaas-ugandacf.org/ufaas-holds-gp-saep-strategic-workshop-to-enhance-implementation-of-agroecology-efforts/

https://ufaas-ugandacf.org/lira-district-officials-welcome-ufaas-gp-saep-agroecology-project-600-smallholders-to-benefit/

https://ufaas-ugandacf.org/ufaas-launches-agroecology-project-to-enhance-rural-advisory-services-ras-and-farmer-to-farmer-joint-learning/

https://ufaas-ugandacf.org/ufaas-kicks-off-training-of-agroecology-master-trainers/

Contacts:

For more information on UFAAS and the project, please: Contact us at the AFAAS Secretariat, Kigobe Road, Ntinda,
Email : ufaas2013@gmail.com or ufaascf@afaas-africa.org;
Website: www.ufaas-ugandacf.org;
Tel: +256 312313400 (office line) or +256 776801091 (CEO-UFAAS)

Download Resources:

UFAAS GP-SAEP Brochure