In Uganda, agriculture is the backbone of nation’s economy—employing 70% of the population, contributing to 50% of national export earnings, and 25% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (source: FAO).
With most Ugandans living in rural areas and practicing farming, rising populations and income growth have increased the demand for food and agricultural products. Growing needs of the population—coupled with severe weather events exacerbated by climate change—are putting increased pressure on farmers’ land and the environment.
But even within these challenges, farmers are finding new ways to adapt and thrive. Nestled in the vibrant hills of Bududa is Grace Faith Wambi’s home and farm. The mother of five wears a bright smile and is excited to share what she’s accomplished on her land since joining TREES’ program in 2020. She is the Lead Farmer for TREES’ Elgon 5 farmer group where she collaborates alongside 22 other farmers in her community.
One could easily tell that Grace is very organized and structured on her farm, with each crop section carefully labelled. As a retired teacher of 20 years, it sparked true to the phrase, “Once a teacher, always a teacher.” On her farm, Grace is now growing a variety of vegetables and herbal plants—including tomatoes, onions, hyacinth beans, aloe vera, and hibiscus—with trees and stalks of healthy green bananas decorating the garden.
Farmers like Grace are mitigating climate vulnerabilities by embracing agroforestry, practicing a combination of regenerative farming methods and crop diversity on their farms.
“Before the program, I relied on my small kitchen garden at home and only grew vegetables, but currently my farm is colorful with a variety of crops and fruits,” recalled Grace.
“The TREES’ program has brought a lot of food to my household. Compared to before, there is plenty to eat now. My home is food secure because my family eats fresh food from our garden. I also sell tomatoes, onions, vegetables, and matooke (green bananas) in the market and to my neighbours to earn some extra money.”
Grace and her farm are well known and respected in her community. Her neighbors are fascinated by how every corner of the farm is filled with food, crops, and trees. In turn, Grace is eager to teach them how to replicate these practices on their own farms, such as improving soil health with composting to improve soil fertility. Grace’s farm is also now used as a training site for the community around her as a model example of the approach. Fellow farmers get to observe some of the regenerative practices to then apply to their farms and improve their yields.
Her farm has also reached national recognition by Uganda’s National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO), who approached her to set up demonstration plots to trial crops on her farm. The demonstration plots have new varieties of potatoes and beans under research.
Building on Money Saving
In addition to managing her thriving farm, Grace is also the proud treasurer of her local Village Savings & Loan Association (VSLA) where she champions her farmer group to utilize the program to better themselves. In 2020, TREES introduced VSLA training to farmers in the program—made up of 15-30 people who save money together, borrow at low interest rates, and share profits. This system allows smallholder farmers who don’t have access to bank accounts to save their money and access credit easily from within their community. VSLAs are designed to be simple to manage, fully transparent, secure, and independently led by the groups themselves.
As treasurer, Grace is responsible for the money collected by the group in a safe lockbox. At the time of our visit, the VSLA had over three million Ugandan shillings for the group to borrow from at an agreed rate of interest.
Grace is so proud of the support she received from TREES and is eager to continue sharing her knowledge and training with her neighbors who have yet to join the program. As these regenerative methods continue to spread from one farmer to the next, they are helping to build a more sustainable and secure future across Uganda.
From her thriving farm to her leadership in the VSLA, Grace is growing more than crops—she’s growing resilience, opportunity, and inspiration within her community. Her story reflects what’s possible when farmers are equipped with the tools and knowledge to restore their land and invest in their futures.
