Zombo, Uganda: Local government leaders in West Nile have been urged to integrate highly skilled farmers trained under the Dutch-funded Power of Voices Project (PvP) into government programmes to ensure sustainability and improve household livelihoods across the region.
The five-year project, which began in 2020 and concludes in December 2025, has strengthened the capacity of more than 1,000 male and female farmers involved in the onion value chain. Through training in Global GAP standards, exchange learning visits, seed support, market access, agronomy, post-harvest handling and financial literacy, the initiative has repositioned onions as a viable commercial enterprise across Zombo, Nebbi and Arua.
Speaking during a three-day intensive training at Daudi Courts in Paidha Town Council, Zombo District, Muddy Oyikuru, a Project Officer at the Agency for Community Empowerment (AFCE), appealed to government to link the trained farmers to the Parish Development Model (PDM) to maintain momentum beyond the project’s lifespan.
“We have worked closely with government since inception. It would be ideal for these farmers to be integrated into programmes like PDM so they can access capital for horticultural investment. Sustainability is possible if government and farmers walk this journey together,” Oyikuru said.
Beatrice Manenu, a Community-Based Consultant in Logiri Subcounty, Arua District, echoed the call, saying farmers in the West Nile region have the skills but lack financial support to expand production.
“These farmers are ready. Government should prioritise them in PDM allocations. Some have received funds but many have not. We need fairness,” she said.
Government rolled out the Parish Development Model in 2022 to transition the 39% of Ugandans still in subsistence into the money economy. Thousands nationwide have since accessed revolving funds, with success stories emerging across parishes.
Extension workers argue that the 1,000 farmers trained under PvP are uniquely positioned to demonstrate proper utilisation of PDM resources. They say empowering them further would boost productivity and add value to horticulture in the region.
Lead farmer Ezekiel Onyuthi from Gonyubendu Micro Station in Nebbi District praised the project for equipping them with extensive skills but lamented delays in PDM disbursements. “To do farming as a business requires capital. We now have the knowledge; what we lack is timely access to PDM funds,” he said.
A government official who preferred anonymity advised farmers to follow established PDM structures. “If they join formal groups at parish and village levels, they will access the funds like everyone else,” he said.
The Uganda Agribusiness Alliance (UAA), which spearheaded the training, brought together 18 farmers and six Community-Based Trainers from microstations across Arua, Nebbi and Zombo. The practical sessions focused on strengthening farmers’ skills in onion and garlic agronomy, climate-smart agriculture, post-harvest handling, value addition, financial management and business development.
Consultant Agronomist Kukunda Medias said the training was timely as the project enters its final phase. “This refresher is designed to reinforce the practical skills gained over five years. Our aim is to ensure farmers continue adopting climate-smart practices, add value and position their produce competitively at national, regional and global markets,” she said, urging farmers to continue consulting each other to increase production.
Moses Openjmungu, Agricultural Officer for Zombo Town Council, said the intervention was timely given the horticultural challenges in the district. He encouraged farmers to focus on sustainability, value addition and reducing post-harvest losses. He further called for knowledge sharing to minimise unnecessary losses.
The Power of Voices Project is funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs through Oxfam, and implemented by the Uganda Agribusiness Alliance (UAA) in partnership with the Agency for Community Empowerment (AFCE), SEATINI Uganda, ESAFF Uganda and CSBAG.
Over the years, the project has improved market access and strengthened farmers in agronomy, post-harvest management and enterprise development.
As Uganda remains anchored in agriculture, with over 70% of the population dependent on farming, the Uganda Agribusiness Alliance reaffirmed its commitment to supporting farmers beyond the project’s closure, saying the gains made offer a strong foundation for continued growth in the onion and garlic sector in West Nile.
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