Stories
July 25, 2025 • 2 min read
In Uganda’s Busoga region, INSPIRE project, generously funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, is helping smallholder farmers improve soil health and increase productivity through practical learning. Farmers’ Learning Groups test new methods on demonstration plots to compare them with traditional practices. Namukobe Hadijja, a lead farmer in Buyende District, is seeing measurable results from using improved seeds and soil management techniques. Her learning plot has demonstrated a clear improvement in yields, helping others in her community adopt more effective practices.
The Busoga region, renowned for its diverse farming systems, from coffee and bananas in the south to maize and cassava in the north. However, it is facing increasing agricultural challenges due to population pressure, environmental degradation, and soil depletion. Since 1985, the local population has more than tripled, resulting in deforestation, reduced farm sizes, and decreased crop diversity. Yields have declined, with farmers now harvesting about half of what they did a few decades ago. INSPIRE, implemented in this setting, aims to restore productivity and promote sustainable farming through practical, farmer-led innovation.
Practical Learning Through Demonstration Plots
The INSPIRE project supports Farmers’ Learning Groups (FLGs) that bring together 30 farmers to learn by comparing traditional and improved farming methods. Each group is supported by a Lead Farmer, someone with experience, land, and a willingness to host learning activities. Namukobe Hadijja, a 29-year-old farmer from Irundu subcounty, Buyende District, was chosen as one such leader. With support from INSPIRE, she established two side-by-side plots on her land: a Learning Plot using improved techniques and a traditional field.
Improving Soil Health and Productivity
FLG participants focus on soil management, planting techniques, and pest control, using a mix of natural materials and mineral fertilizers. The goal is to enhance soil fertility and increase yields sustainably. Farmers observe both plots over time, tracking differences in crop health and productivity. In Hadijja’s case, the Learning Plot, enhanced with improved bean seeds and fertilizers, has produced significantly better results than her Regular Field.
Sharing Knowledge and Encouraging Change
Namukobe’s plot serves as a local learning hub. Farmers meet regularly to analyse and discuss progress using the 4P model: Plot, Plant, Pests, and Practices. This hands-on, peer-led approach encourages informed decision-making and gradual adoption of new practices. Hadijja notes the change: “Before INSPIRE, my land felt tired, and my crops didn’t give much yield. Now, I see how these practices bring better results, even with limited land.” Her experience is motivating others in her community to reconsider their own approaches and adopt practices that improve yields and income.
