Page 212 - AFAP Success Stories 2020

National launch of the Action Africa program in Uganda; Vitalis Wafula (Yara director), Joel Kakaire (AFAP manager), Agnes Mbabazi (Agrifarm director), Hon.
Bamulangaki Sempijja (minister of agriculture), Paul Mwambu (commissioner in the Ministry of Agriculture), Carol Mumo (Yara marketing manager and
Mwanja John (assistant commissioner in the Ministry of Agriculture)

to top dress and the maize gardens are already looking of their maize is such that they do not expect less than 10
very healthy and green, showing signs of very high yields. bags (1000kg) per acre. Equally, the farmers of Kyazanga
During the fertilizer-distribution exercise, AFAP ensured Farmers’ Cooperative ordered 12MT of fertilizer to cater
a market-driven approach in which the hub agrodealers for their other maize gardens, even though they have not
were always in attendance in case the farmers wished yet determined the yields in the fields where fertilizer has
to purchase more fertilizer during that season or in the already been applied. Kyazanga Farmers’ Cooperative also
seasons to come. received 28MT to benefit 280 smallholder farmers out of
a total active membership of 750. The donation has also
The Action Africa program has already caused a high increased member loyalty in Kyazanga, where existing
increase in demand for fertilizers; this even before the members and new ones enabled a subscription fee of five
farmers started harvesting. The trials have already resulted million Ugandan shillings ($1388) to be brought in from
in a mindset and attitude change in farmers towards 100 members, the equivalent in fees for an entire year
fertilizers. For example, farmers in Kaliro, organized collected in just one month.
under the Magezi Bugaiga Farmers’ Group (translated as
knowledge is wealth), after receiving and using the 28MT This increase in loyal members in certain groups has sent
of donated fertilizer, put in an additional order for 30MT of a message to other group leaders to revisit their value
Yara cereal fertilizer at Appo Farmers’ Centre for their other propositions in order to encourage greater member
gardens. On average, an acre in this area has been yielding participation in their own associations and groups.
two bags (200kg) but with fertilizer application, the health

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