Agro-Tourism Association (ATA) has developed the CALI programme proposal for consideration by Vi Agroforestry for funding through collaboration. The programme is aligned to Vi Agroforestry´s programme on ´´Agroforestry for Sustainable Livelihoods and Biodiversity (ASILI-B),´´ whose overall objective is to,  ´´improve smallholder farmer family’s food and nutrition security, sustainable livelihoods, gender equality, and resilience while enhancing biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation´´

 

The overall goal of the proposed CALI Programme to, ´´contribute to poverty reduction through increased sustainable agriculture, resilient livelihoods and adoption of agroforestry approaches and mitigation strategies.´´

 

Therefore, the implementation of the CALI programme directly contributes towards achievement of the aspirations of the Vi Agroforestry’s ASILI-B programme

 

Goal

The overall goal of CALI – Programme is to contribute to poverty reduction through increased sustainable agriculture, resilient livelihoods and adoption of agroforestry approaches and mitigation strategies

 

Objectives

1. To improve livelihoods of smallholder farmer families through enterprise diversification and equitable access to business development services by December 2025..

 

1. To promote agro ecosystems functioning, resilience to climate change mitigation, biodiversity, and environmental and adoption of water conservation technologies by December 2025.

 

Outcomes 

• Outcome 1: Smallholder farmer’s families with diversified livelihood enterprises and increased incomes.
• Outcome 2: Reported increase in adoption of climate smart agriculture (including agroforestry) approaches by smallholder farmer families

 

Target

The CALI programme targets to directly reach 6,000 smallholder farmer families including the youth (young people) i.e. boys and girls, who will be targeted for direct benefit from the CALI programme activities.

Agro-Tourism is working with some selected farmers to pilot the growing of apples in the Teso Sub-region. The region is well known for being hot area as compared to Kabale in western Uganda where apples are highly grown now.

If the results from this research turn out to be very positive then this is going to create a very good alternative source of livelihoods for the region.

Though the crop has been known to grow in Western Uganda due to the cold temperatures, apples in Soroti have excited many farmers and researchers.

There’s a ready market for apples for domestic consumption but also brewing companies such as Uganda Breweries Ltd have approached Agro-Tourism Association to supply them with apples, which are currently used in the production of a popular beer called Apple Cider.

Once results from this project come out successful the project will be rolled out to support smallholder farmers in the Teso region to produce Apples on a commercial basis

Tourism is one of the biggest businesses in and around the conservation areas of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (BINP) and Mgahunga National Park (MNP) in the districts of Kabake, Rubanda, Kisoro, and Kanungu. With incomes from agro-tourism, Agro-Tourism Association is supporting communities around the BINP and MNP to produce quality craft products to raise incomes for their livelihoods. This so far has seen many communities engage in more conservation practices such as planting if more indigenous trees, and establishing reformed poachers among others.

All the products have ready markets through one of our outlets such as at the National Theatre, The National Craft Association of Uganda (NACCA) Shop, No. 30

The 36 months program began in June 2022 and is currently implemented in the districts of Gomba, Kalungu, Luweero, Mityana, Sembabule, Wakiso, Buhweju, Hoima, Isingiro, Kabale, Kanungu, Kibaale, Kyenjojo, Masindi, Ntungamo, Rukungiri, Kikuube, Kagadi, Kakumiro, Rukiga, Buikwe, Bukomansimbi, Kalangala, Kayunga, Lwengo, Lyantonde, Mukono, Bugiri, Iganga, Jinja, Kamuli, Mayuge, Namayingo, Kyotera, Bugweri, Kiboga, Masaka, Mpigi, Nakaseke, Rakai, Agago, Apac, Dokolo, Gulu, Kitgum, Kole, Lira, Oyam, Kwania, Omoro

 

Targeting 150,000 youth from 500 youth groups (YGs) and 10 YGs per district with a membership of 30 youth per group, The objective of the partnership is to create a cadre of out-of-school youth with the required skill set needed to lead resilient, healthy, and productive lives. Specifically, activities will attain the following objectives:

1. Deliver pieces of training in financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and soft skills to a selected number of beneficiaries (out-of-school youth) who have proven potential to start their own businesses;
2. Provide market-relevant skills to vulnerable youth;
3. Coach and mentor youth, most of whom are either unemployed or uneducated.

 

The USAID-funded Integrated Child and Youth Development (ICYD) Activity delivers basic education and orphaned and vulnerable children (OVC) services to children and youth by strengthening young people’s ability to critically engage with their environment, address their health and safety needs, and make it more likely to reach their potential.

This is a project currently implemented by Agro-Tourism Association with support from MasterCard Foundation through GOAL Uganda. The objective is to support 30,000 young Ugandans in Abim, Korido, Moroto, Karenga, Kitgum, Lamwo, Pader and Dokolo districts to access dignified and fulfilling employment as a pathway out of poverty through sorghum, maize, beekeeping and poultry value chains. The project milestones include;

• Milestone 1: 200 Youth village agents completed TOT in  FFS approach, e-distribution platform  &technical skills pieces of training and their capacities enhanced to provide the last mile
• Milestone 2: 30,000 Youth Farmers completed technical skills pieces of training under FFS and production and productivity of the selected value chains (Sorghum, Maize, Apiary, Poultry,) enhanced.
• Milestone 3: 30,000 youth farmers accessed improved, Quality and Affordable agro input /chemicals using e-Platform
• Milestone 4: Over 12,885MT of produce Off taken/bought back from 30,000 youth farmers in the 2.4-year period
• Milestone 5: Youth farmers representatives and agents  linked to Financial Services and CSO (for mindset change), and providing required services and products to 30,000 youth