Lamwo District has begun distributing farm inputs to the first 60 beneficiaries under the Uganda Climate Smart Agricultural Transformation Project (UCSATP), a government programme aimed at boosting agricultural productivity and improving household incomes.
The launch marks the start of input distribution to 215 selected farmer groups in the district under the World Bank-funded initiative designed to promote climate-resilient farming practices. According to Lamwo District Agricultural Officer and UCSATP focal person Cyrus Komakech, the district received 2,400 kilograms of soybean seed, which will be used to cultivate 60 acres in the initial phase.
The beneficiaries, drawn from Friends for Life Farmers’ Group and Lacir Bilony Group, also received farm tools and inputs, including tarpaulins, gumboots, fertilisers, sickles, machetes, and hoes.
“The intervention is intended to support farmers to adopt modern and climate-resilient farming practices amid increasing challenges caused by prolonged dry spells and unpredictable weather patterns,” Komakech said.
Lamwo District Chairperson Sisto Oyet Ocen said the programme aligns with a broader government strategy to expand production of maize and soybeans for regional markets.
“When we were in Munyonyo during the launch of the programme, we were informed that the government plans to supply maize and soybeans to five countries that have expressed interest in Uganda’s produce,” Ocen said. He added that current production levels are insufficient to meet demand, prompting increased support to farmer groups under the project.
“The government realised that current production levels are insufficient. With support from the World Bank, it was decided that the number of farmers growing maize and soybeans should be increased,” he said.
Ocen noted that farmer groups will be required to bulk their harvests for sale through government-supported marketing arrangements targeting export markets. He also emphasized the role of extension workers in ensuring farmers adopt recommended agronomic practices.
“Farmers have been provided with items such as tarpaulins to ensure that harvested produce remains clean and of good quality,” he said. A beneficiary, Stella Amito of Friends for Life Farmers’ Group, said she had already prepared land for planting and welcomed the programme as a boost to household income.
The Uganda Climate Smart Agricultural Transformation Project targets farmer groups, cooperatives, women, youth, and vulnerable households across participating districts. It aims to improve productivity, strengthen resilience to climate shocks, and enhance market access through climate-smart technologies.
The six-year programme, implemented in 65 districts with support from the World Bank, operates under a cost-sharing model where the government covers 80 percent of production costs while farmers contribute 20 percent. In Lamwo, implementation of the project began in 2025, with district leaders expressing optimism that it will improve food security, increase production, and reduce poverty among farming households. URN