Page 211 - AFAP Success Stories 2020

Action Africa Program already

making fortunes in Uganda

The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us just how vulnerable agricultural value chains
and rural livelihoods are to external shocks and how much more needs to be done
to build the sector’s resilience. Preliminary analysis of the impact of the pandemic in
Malawi has revealed disrupted access to agricultural inputs, extension and advisory
services, and output markets for many farmers. However, thanks to the YARA Action
Africa fertilizer donation initiative, smallholder farmers in Malawi have begun to
protect their livelihood and food security from the predicted adverse impacts of the
pandemic.

Uganda’s agricultural sector faces low and declining soil In September this year, AFAP received 500MT of quality
fertility; limited access to extension services; and low rates cereal fertilizers from Yara International and distributed
of adoption of yield-enhancing technologies like the use it to 5000 smallholder farmers organized into 23 farmer
of fertilizers and other inputs. This is demonstrated by the associations or groups across 18 Ugandan districts. The
fact that fertilizer use in Uganda is estimated at 0.23–4.0kg/ farmers were delighted that during the tough times
ha/annum, which is far below the sub-Saharan African caused by COVID-19 that Yara, in partnership with AFAP,
average of 17kg/ha/annum and the CAADP target of 50kg/ had gifted to them one of the most expensive inputs for
ha/annum of nutrients by 2025. This practice is partly due crop production – fertilizer. On average, fertilizers cost 40%
to the perception farmers have that soils are sufficiently of the total cost of production, if used for both planting
fertile, as expressed in the lyrics of the national anthem and top dressing. Each farmer received at least two bags
and the erroneous perception that inorganic fertilizers of fertilizer to apply to their maize. Although AFAP has
spoil soils. In order to educate smallholder farmers, efforts been training farmers using demonstration plots, some
need to be made to enable them to experiment with the of them have never invested in fertilizers. So, in order to
correct use of fertilizer on farmers’ plots. Fertilizer use is key assist, Action Africa has given first-time fertilizer users an
in increasing production and productivity for smallholder opportunity to experience the impact the fertilizers can
farmers, thereby also increasing farmers’ incomes. That is have on their yields. This is already manifesting in some
why during the COVID-19 pandemic, Yara has come to the farmers’ fields.
rescue of several smallholder farmers.
The farmers groups that received fertilizers early were able

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