Programme
Complete
Sweet potatoes for prosperity
Country
Uganda
Running from
2017-2019
People reached
2,000
Key focus areas
Boost productivity
Increase food security and nutrition
Increase incomes
Working in partnership with Soroti Sweet Potato Producers Association (SOSPPA) and farmers previously trained by Harvest Plus, this project ensured a consistent supply of orange-fleshed sweet potatoes to help fight the effects of vitamin A deficiency.
Uganda is now the leading producer of sweet potatoes in Africa, as the east of the country has soil and weather particularly well suited to growing this crop. The orange-fleshed sweet potato is rich in vitamin A and a vital tool in the fight against vitamin A deficiency, which remains a leading cause of preventable blindness among women and children in Uganda.
Farm Africa directly supported 1,000 farmers to increase their yields and reduce their post-harvest losses, so that their crops could be sold and consumed throughout the year. This involved in-depth training in the effective production, harvesting and handling of orange-fleshed sweet potatoes via training sessions held on demonstration plots.
Further, through the SOSPPA production centre and improved market linkages, up to 1,000 more farmers benefitted from our work. Having a central processing centre also provided farmers with an opportunity to come together and share their new experiences, skills and knowledge with each other.
Training on business planning, financial management, marketing and contract negotiation helped the farmers, working as a collective, to negotiate supply agreements with commercial buyers such as millers who will pay good prices.
This project was funded by Ajahma Charitable Trust.
