Uganda Climate Smart Agriculture Project Reviews Progress in Buyende

The Uganda Climate Smart Agriculture Transformation Project (UCSATP) has verified more than 202 farmer groups in Buyende District, covering several agricultural value chains, as the government and the World Bank assess implementation progress halfway through the programme. These groups are engaged in crop production, coffee, cocoa, dairy, capture fisheries, and beneficial insects, among other enterprises. The project aims to increase agricultural productivity, improve market access, and strengthen the resilience of selected agricultural value chains to climate change.

The progress was highlighted during a mid-term review conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), together with the World Bank and the project’s Monitoring and Evaluation team. The review aimed to assess achievements, identify implementation gaps, and establish areas requiring improvement. Buyende has also benefited from project assets, including a double-cabin vehicle intended to facilitate field monitoring and supervision of agricultural activities.

However, the review identified several challenges affecting implementation, including poor network connectivity, high costs of dairy production inputs, and staffing gaps. Project officials commended the district’s community sensitisation efforts but urged farmers to make effective use of the resources provided and fulfil their financial commitments to ensure timely access to project services.

Beneficiary groups reported increased support and funding under the programme but raised concerns about limited market access, pests, prolonged drought, insecurity, and fisheries management challenges. These challenges continue to affect agricultural production and livelihoods, highlighting the difficulties farmers face in translating project support into improved production and household incomes.

The UCSATP is a six-year government programme implemented by MAAIF with support from the World Bank. It targets 69 districts across the country and seeks to benefit approximately 3.9 million people directly and another 9.5 million indirectly through interventions covering crop production, livestock, fisheries, and beneficial insects.

In the Busoga sub-region, the programme supports several value chains, including dairy, coffee, aquaculture, and capture fisheries, cocoa, and poultry. The project adopts a farmer-group approach, requiring beneficiaries to organise themselves into groups to access government-supported agricultural inputs, technologies, and services.

The mid-term review in Buyende is expected to help the implementing agencies identify gaps, strengthen coordination, and improve the delivery of interventions during the remaining implementation period. The project has emphasised the importance of monitoring farmers’ readiness and ensuring that resources reach intended beneficiaries, with the World Bank working alongside MAAIF to assess implementation and establish whether beneficiaries are adequately prepared.

Key points

• The UCSATP aims to benefit approximately 3.9 million people directly and another 9.5 million indirectly through interventions covering crop production, livestock, fisheries, and beneficial insects.