KABALE: Over 1500 Farmers Embrace Common Ground Project for Sustainable Agriculture

KABALE – A program aimed at transforming the mindset of farmers in Kabale district has garnered the support of over 1500 individuals.

Dubbed the Common Ground project, this initiative is currently underway through a collaboration between Integrated Seed and Sector Development Uganda (ISSD) and Wageningen Environmental Research, with funding provided by the embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands in Kampala.

Running from 2022 to 2026, the primary objective of this four-year project is to enhance the productivity of smallholder farmers by promoting sustainable agricultural practices, rejuvenating watersheds, and improving marketing strategies.

Francis Muhanguzi, the Kigezi regional Common Ground project coordinator, stresses the project’s aim to safeguard highland farmer communities from population pressure and degradation risks.

Since its inception, the project has been guiding farmers in adopting improved practices to boost their productivity.

Stakeholders organized an open day to showcase the positive impacts of the initiative on the public. Farmers who have benefited from the program highlighted significant changes in their farming approaches, including the effective establishment of ventures on smaller land plots.

Gad Ensitiyeitu, a farmer, shared, “I started with a nursery bed of green vegetables and cabbages, and I have also embarked on training other farmers on how to implement such a style of farming. Through knowledge acquired in the Common Ground project, I can raise funds to take care of my family and meet the school fees requirements of my children, among other benefits.”

Another farmer, Charity Matsiko, commented, “We used to face a lot of challenges with soil erosion, and most of our lands were not fertile enough. Now we know how to use better farming methods like land management and the use of fertilizers.”

During the event, Joseph Baryamujura, the LC3 chairperson for Buhara sub-county, emphasized the importance of avoiding domestic violence for community development.

“When a family is suffering, violence takes shape. Imagine a woman abusing her husband using complicated language as if they are not important,” Baryamujura stated.

The Common Ground project employs the Participatory Integrated Planning (PIP) Approach strategy, promoting resilience-based stewardship through interconnected activities and engagement between farmers and rural communities.

This model empowers communities from the ground up, starting at home and encouraging people and watershed stewards to create a stable foundation for progress.

The PIP technique is based on the premise that resilient farming systems require motivated people and fertile land.