Strengthening the Organic Value Chain
We have been at the forefront of promoting sustainable organic agriculture as a means to improve food security, increase farmers’ incomes, and protect the environment. However, many smallholder farmers face challenges such as limited access to organic inputs, weak market linkages, and lack of certification. In response, Kulika Uganda launched an initiative to strengthen the organic value chain, ensuring that farmers could benefit from organic farming beyond subsistence agriculture with the goals to;
- Improve organic farming practices through training and capacity building.
- Enhance farmers’ access to organic inputs and certification.
- Strengthen market linkages for organic produce.
- Promote value addition and processing of organic products.
- Create awareness of organic farming’s health and economic benefits.
Key Interventions and Outcomes
Capacity Building for
Farmers
We identify smallholder farmers across central and northern Uganda and provide intensive training on organic farming techniques, including:
- Composting and organic soil fertility management.
- Pest and disease control using botanical pesticides.
- Crop rotation and intercropping for improved soil health.
- Water conservation techniques like mulching and rainwater harvesting.
Outcome:
Over 80% of trained farmers adopted organic practices, leading to a 25% increase in farm productivity.
Facilitating Access to Organic Inputs
One of the major challenges in organic farming is the availability of high-quality organic inputs (seeds, fertilizers, and pest control). We partner with local organic input suppliers and train farmers to produce their own:
Organic compost from farm waste.
- Liquid biofertilizers made from animal manure and plant extracts.
- Natural pesticides derived from neem and chili extracts.
Outcome:
75% reduction in input costs for farmers due to self-production.
Increased resilience to climate variability through soil health improvements
Organic Certification and Compliance
To access premium markets, we support farmer groups to obtain organic certification through Uganda Organic Certification Ltd. (UgoCert). Farmers are trained on:
- Record-keeping for organic compliance.
- Avoiding contamination from non-organic farms.
- Understanding export requirements for Europe and regional markets.
Outcome:
200 farmers obtained certified organic status, allowing them to sell at 30-50% higher prices.
Strengthening
Market Linkages
Many farmers struggle to sell organic produce at fair prices due to lack of market access. We help bridge this gap by:
- Establishing direct partnerships with organic food retailers and supermarkets.
- Organizing farmers’ markets to connect rural producers with urban consumers.
- Encouraging contract farming agreements with organic food processors.
Outcome:
Farmers expanded their sales by 40%, with more buyers appreciating the benefits of organic produce.
Value Addition and
Processing
Raw organic produce often fetches lower prices than processed goods. To increase profitability, farmers are trained in:
- Drying and packaging organic fruits and vegetables.
- Producing organic honey, herbal teas, and essential oils.
- Branding and labeling for better market visibility.
Outcome:
150 smallholder farmers started producing and selling value-added products.
Farmers doubled their income by shifting from raw produce to processed goods.
Consumer Awareness and Education
We launch consumer awareness campaigns to increase demand for organic products through:
- Social media campaigns on the health benefits of organic foods.
- Cooking demonstrations showcasing organic recipes.
- Schools and community workshops on organic farming.
Outcome:
15% increase in demand for organic produce in targeted urban areas.
More Ugandans embracing organic farming as a viable livelihood option.
Anticapted Overall Impact
500+ smallholder farmers equipped with organic farming skills.
200 farmers certified under UgoCert, accessing premium markets.
40% increase in farmer revenues due to better market linkages.
Sustainable farming practices adopted, reducing environmental degradation.
Expansion of organic food markets, benefiting both farmers and consumers.
Conclusion & Future Plans
This demonstrates that strengthening the organic value chain can significantly improve livelihoods, environmental sustainability, and food security. Moving forward, we aim to:
Scale up training to 1,000 more farmers in the next 3 years.
Support more farmer cooperatives to access financing and bulk marketing.
Develop e-commerce platforms for selling organic produce online.
Expand organic certification to regional and international levels.