Recently the Department of Production Nakapiripirit District held a Benchmarking visit to Kween District to learn about the implementation of the Uganda Climate Smart Agricultural Transformation (UCSAT) Project in the district.

The engagement meeting brought together local leaders, departmental heads, community development officers, sub-county chiefs and chairpersons. 

Speaking at the  during the visit the  Senior Agricultural Officer Mr Atibu Abdulla Loese and Nakapiripirit District’s focal person for UCSATP, emphasized the project’s transformative potential, saying that its main objective is to increase productivity, market access and resilience of select value chains in the project area and to respond promptly and effectively to an eligible crisis or emergency.

He said that the project will directly impact over 56,521 beneficiaries across 8 sub-counties and one Town Council focusing on livestock farming, fisheries, and the cultivation of staple crops like maize, cassava, sorghum and soybeans.

Atibu said they had reached over 120 smallholder farmer groups across district who are ready to practice improved integrated farming systems, agroforestry, plus soil and water conservation, 

He noted that the UCSATP targeted value chains interventions for Nakapiripirit will mainly focus on beef production under Livestock, Aquaculture under Fisheries, cassava, soybeans, and sorghum growing under crops and bees and black solder files under beneficial insect’s 

Mr. Atibu said, significant progress has been made in the last nine months, with tangible benefits already visible among target farmer groups, he said other key achievements include

Selection of project implementation teams at district and in all the nine lower local government units already done.

Identification of Sites for construction of an integrated laboratory, livestock holding grounds, automatic weather station and valley tank done.

Identification of 20 km of road chocks (Nakapiripirit P/School Moruita -Trading center, Lokoona –Kawaar , Kawaar –Tokora Trading Center, Tokora Trading Center- Agromax, Namalu-Namatata Apeded ,Kagata road –Lomorimoir ).

Mobilization and sensitization of farmers to in all the nine lower local government units already done and still going on.

Group formation and registration identification, Mobilization and sensitization already done and still going on.

He highlighted some challenges encountered during the execution of activities that included delayed disbursement of Funds, inadequate transport equipment for extension workers, low staffing in the production sector to handle activities, limited farmer sensitization on project implementation strategies, Unreliable weather patterns and limited access to mechanization in the district.

The Chief Administrative Officer Mr. Lokoroi Charles Okwi reiterated the project's goal of expanding agricultural production and promoting sustainable land management.  Saying that there is need for commitment to boost productivity and support the development of sustainable value chains

Mr. Lokoroi said by promoting climate-smart practices and sustainable livelihoods, the project will have the potential to transform farming practices that benefit both the community and the environment. 

During the discussions, participants reflected on various strategies that local farmers can adopt to cope with climate change by doing agroforestry, crop rotation, Intercropping, mulching, minimizing soil disturbance to improve soil structure, reduce erosion, and conserve moisture which can help improve soil health, break disease cycles, and prevent nutrient depletion.

The UCSATP project is being implemented with support from the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) and development partners.

Launched in December 2024, the UCSAT project aims to build the resilience of farming communities to climate change through the promotion of sustainable agricultural practices, improved access to climate-resilient technologies, and enhanced market linkages.

 By Oboth Henry Communication Officer 

Nakapiripirit Local Government