Farm Care Group Agritech Model
Abstract
Background: Agriculture remains the backbone of Uganda’s economy, employing more than 70% of the population. However, smallholder farmers continue to face multiple constraints, including limited access to quality agricultural inputs, unreliable rainfall, inadequate extension services, and weak market linkages. These challenges reduce productivity, increase production costs, and constrain household incomes, particularly among women and youth farmers.
Problem Statement: Despite the availability of various agricultural support initiatives, most interventions address production, advisory services, irrigation, or market access separately. The absence of integrated service delivery models limits the effectiveness of efforts aimed at improving smallholder agricultural productivity and commercialization. This study developed and pilot-tested the Farm Care Group Agritech Model to address these interconnected challenges through a bundled service approach.
- Community-based input supply
- Irrigation infrastructure
- Digital advisory services
- Institutional market linkages
- Demonstration farming
Methods
Design: Mixed-methods (household surveys, platform analytics, focus group discussions) among 120 participating households in three sub-counties of Kyenjojo District.
Implementation: The Farm Care Group model was rolled out with five integrated components (see above). Data were collected to assess implementation outcomes and user experiences.
Results
- Input procurement distance: 51 km → <3 km
- Seed costs: ↓ 18%
- Irrigation access: 85 households
- Digital platform activation: 94/120 (78% use price alerts)
- Institutional buyers: 12 agreements · 67 households access formal markets
- Agronomic knowledge: improved among 110 farmers
- Women-headed households: 38% of beneficiaries
Conclusion
The Farm Care Group model demonstrates the potential of integrated Agritech approaches to improve farmers’ access to inputs, irrigation, extension information, and markets. Scaling such models could contribute to enhanced agricultural productivity, commercialization, and inclusive rural development among smallholder farming communities.