Smallholder farmers’ families in Jangokoro Sub County, Zombo District, Uganda face high reliance on subsistence agriculture, limited income diversification strategy, limited participation in local decentralized governance, and  

now COVID-19 pandemic that together has culminated into high rate of food, nutrition, and income insecurity. The SURE project seeks to organize 335 vulnerable smallholder farm households (56% women) into 10 farmer groups through a multipurpose cooperative society that will use sustainable agricultural intensification, community micro financing, and participation in local governance approach to trigger environmentally-friendly and gender-sensitive production and marketing of diversified agricultural commodities. The project goal is, “to contribute to the eradication of hunger and extreme poverty in Zombo District, Uganda”, and its specific objective is, “to empower 335 smallholder farmer households in Jangokoro Sub County to increase their production, consumption, and marketing of diversified agricultural commodities.” 

To date, food security status increased from 49% - 87%. Asset poverty reduced from 61% to 54%. And more women were empowered (59%). There is increased adoption of good climate smart practices (61%); setup of backyard/kitchen garden together with daily vegetable consumption and eating diversified foods (97%); high yield of Irish potato, increased weekly savings and 39% of members ownership of micro-businesses. The 10 farmer groups with UCDA support planted 29,000 coffee seedlings. With Community Health Frontline Advisors in the groups there is increased awareness and adoption of safe sanitation and hygiene practices.

Project budget:  UGX: 571,463,230

Project donor: Manos Unidas