Project Summary Hunger and poverty are endemic in rural agricultural communities all over the world because women and young people who constitute the most significant group of people here lack capital and capacity building to invest in sustainable agricultural practices. One of the most critical problems is lack of knowledge in adopting new sustainable agricultural techniques, so we want to engage them in workshops, study visits, technical training, outreach to stakeholders and policy-makers, and linkages with related ongoing initiatives in order to improve access to knowledge, equipment and inputs. We hope to empower them by strengthening their reach and level of engagement at both ends and develop more programs that are continuous, consistent and compliment our objectives of delivering a lasting and comprehensive solution to the problems. Problems of Farmers in Namponda village • Scarcity of quality seeds • High cost of seeds • High prevalence of diseases and pests on the crop in fields • Poor mastery of proper cultivation techniques by the farmers • High post harvest losses • Insufficient capital to expand production • Price manipulation by traders • Poor transport facilities • Insufficient inputs like fertilizers and pesticides etc
EXPECTED RESULTS Result # 1: Resource Mobilization Opportunity (Scale up the Sustainable business models): This project will be used as catalyst whereby through its implementation it will create an informed environment with demonstrative effects, stimulate demand and showcase a business model that can be replicated and scaled up through government and/or development partners financing and can as well be picked up by private sector actors to participate in the private sector interested in Integrated farming Hub business through mobilization of service provides i.e., Marketing, packaging, transporters, inputs suppliers, ICT, financiers and consultants. Result # 2 Stimulation of Sustainable business partnerships The project will promote partnership across the board with Agencies, especially with Local government, private sector and communities at large. Through its direct impacts on socio-economic aspects critical to economic development such as sustainable agriculture practices, the project will spur development and growth of other related businesses and services dependent on reliable food supply, thus forming a virtuous and sustainable business partnerships. PROGRAMME RESULTS Result #1: Out of 1000 the youth accessing the Integrated Farming, 30% will have developed innovative new agribusiness projects to address key development challenges (in line with the SDGs) in their respective regions. Result #2 Technical capacity to support innovations (to access new networks, technologies, trainings) increased at the productivity and income. At least three new innovative solutions to unlock youth entrepreneurship and unemployment challenges developed and launched. Result #3: A de-risk and catalytic fund established and running. WHAT THE PROJECT WILL DO The main focus of this project will be to transform the agricultural sector (Crops, livestock & fisheries) towards higher productivity, commercialization level and increase smallholder farmer income for improved livelihood and guarantee food and nutrition security in order to provide capital to young people to invest in sustainable agricultural practices. The project starts with poultry farming. A feed processing unit will be built wherein the maize and the soya beans cultivated will be used to process chicken feed. Other crops will be sold to buy other feed requirements. The droppings collected will be use for both organic farming and market gardening. This will help them improve farming systems, new varieties of crops and animals, and commercialize their production as well as establish and manage farm business It will also empower them through capacity building eventually creating an enabling environment for them to start large scale farming and also to diversify production into areas that are economically more feasible. They will equally be able to market their produce conveniently. They shall no longer feel the effects of price fluctuations since they shall be able to buy own produce and sell later when price stabilizes. It shall also help improve on their farm yields and income and assist them attain food sufficiency a much-desired goal for Food security It shall create employment opportunities for them and the community at large given the diversity of activities involved and eventually improves the health and quality of life. Practice organic farming thereby reducing over dependence on the more expensive inorganic fertilizers It will empower young girls in the area of their academic careers since one of our objectives is encouraging empowerment through knowledge. PROJECT FOCUS Since the ultimate goal of this project is to transform the agricultural sector (Crops, livestock & fisheries) towards higher productivity, commercialization level and increase smallholder farmer income for improved livelihood and guarantee food and nutrition security., we hope to make capital available to these youths (male and female) and also train them on proper farming methods. This will improve production, income levels and living conditions of the families. It will also ensure that they adopt sustainable agricultural practices which will eventually save them the time and energy of travelling to distant places in search of more productive agricultural land. In short, helping 200 youths means helping 200 families and the wider community. POTENTIAL LONG-TERM IMPACT Young people have the capacity to lead and build and of recent, those of them who have been given the opportunity to invest in sustainable agricultural practices have been able to rescue whole families from hunger and poverty. Empowering them thus will have the long term impact of improving food security and reducing poverty by about 75% in rural communities and bringing some ½ a billion people out of hunger and starvation. SUSTAINABILITY The scope of this project extends beyond the anticipated timeline. After the first phase of this project, we shall launch similar projects to make sure that the project continues to have an impact on the lives of youths,their families and the wider community. We have put up a competent agricultural resource structure enterprise tasked with business study, market research, business creation and operation to manage the project and make sure the overall goals objectives are attained.