Stories
January 13, 2026 • 2 min read
Nabirye Mary, a 50-year-old participant from Bunangwe-Buyobo, has transformed her household’s farming practices through the INSPIRE project’s PIP (Participatory Integrated Planning) training. She embraced integrated farming, using savings to invest in goats, which quickly increased her herd and supported her family’s needs. Beyond economic gains, Nabirye has built knowledge, confidence, and resilience as a widow managing her household.
Kamuli District in Uganda continues to face persistent challenges in agricultural productivity, particularly among smallholder farmers with limited resources and access to technical knowledge. Through the INSPIRE project, generously funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (EKN), GOAL is supporting farmers to adopt the Participatory Integrated Planning (PIP) approach.
This approach provides practical training and ongoing support to help households transition to sustainable and integrated farming systems. By combining crop and livestock production, farming families are better able to improve food security, increase household incomes, and build long-term resilience against economic and climate-related shocks.
Limited Knowledge and Resources
Before joining the PIP training, Nabirye Mary’s household relied solely on crop farming and had a limited understanding of how livestock could enhance productivity. “I only practised crop farming and had no knowledge of the benefits of integrating livestock,” she explained. Without awareness of the sustainable cycle between crops and animals, her household struggled to maximise resources and generate additional income.
Embracing Integrated Farming
The PIP training provided Nabirye with practical knowledge and skills to transform her approach to farming. She began raising goats using savings from contributions sent by her children and her local Village Saving and Loan (VSL) group. From UGX 560,000 (€134) saved, she purchased a pregnant improved goat for UGX 300,000 (€72). Within six weeks, the goat gave birth to twins, bringing her herd to three. The remaining UGX 260,000 (€62) was used to pay her youngest child’s school fees. “Instead of waiting for NGO support, I took initiative and invested in my household’s future,” Nabirye said.
Knowledge, Confidence, and Resilience
Through PIP, Nabirye gained confidence, knowledge, and resilience, enabling her to manage her household effectively as a widow. Her vision extends beyond goats to acquiring a cow to further strengthen her integrated farming system. Today, she sees farming not as a burden but as a pathway to progress, dignity, and self-reliance. “Thanks to INSPIRE and the PIP approach, my household is on a journey of true transformation,” she shared.
