AGRICULTURE PRODUCTION AND ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT

STRATEGIC INTERVENTIONS

1. Agribusiness Development: Agribusiness involves all agricultural business activities from production to consumption, including the supply of agricultural inputs as well as the processing and distribution of agricultural products. In the context of Uganda and the Rwenzori Region, agribusiness is one of the main generators of employment and income. The Uganda Vision 2040 clearly identifies agriculture and agribusiness development as a core sector for reducing poverty and increasing prosperity among  Ugandans. JESE is convinced that promotion and investment in agribusiness will enhance Uganda’s competitiveness on the world market, boost foreign exchange earnings and employment.  It can also reduce wastage, enhance food security, improve livelihoods for low income groups and empower disadvantaged groups of society like rural women, youth and the disabled. 

2. Gender integration: JESE specifically targets women farmers to identify specific constraints they face in agricultural production and provide support in accessing agricultural services. This includes but not limited to training in farming techniques, awareness on land rights and laws, development or promotion of appropriate technologies that reduce burden of women in farming and strengthening of women farm groups to access resources and build partnerships with other groups and service providers.

3. On farm research: This intervention area focuses on knowledge building and management through integration of both scientific and social research methodologies. JESE plans to pursue strategic partnerships with academic and research institutions in her pursuit of building a strong research mandate. Practical lessons and knowledge generated through on farm research trials, seed multiplication sites and demonstration gardens will be clearly documented, analyzed, published in various research journals and shared widely to our target community.

4. Farmer led advocacy: Under this intervention area, focuses on developing strategies for enhanced internal democracy and accountable leadership for supported farmer groups. JESE facilitates the formation of farmers’ platforms for information sharing on best practices, technologies, undertake collective lobbying and advocacy. The farmers’ platforms bring together different farmer organizations to reflect on critical issues affecting their agricultural operations e.g. institutional arrangements, inputs supplies, production, value addition, marketing and the general policy environment.

5. Climate change adaptation: To support framers address the effects of climate changes, JESE conducts awareness campaigns on the need to conserve the environment and use of risk-reducing practices/actions to improve resilience to climate change. Through partnerships with academic institutions and other organizations, JESE will conduct action research on cost effective water for production innovations (rain water harvesting and tapping into existing streams), indigenous climate change coping strategies and soil and water conservation technologies..

6. Agricultural land use planning: Under this intervention, focus is laid on equipping households with improved land use planning skills and other support services. Identification of land use opportunities matched to land capability and advice on the preservation of high quality agricultural land is also done for target households. Special emphasis is laid on awareness campaigns on land rights and legal registration, enhanced community approach to land use and farm planning for balanced nutrient flows, replenishment and well planned farmlands in a bid to achieve sustainable farm ecosystems.