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AfrII cassava project improves youth livelihoods in Northern Uganda

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Participants during the workshop on crop insurance in Lira district.

 

Youth on a cassava project implemented by Africa Innovations Institute and WindWood Millers Limited (WML) during a workshop on crop insurance in Lira District. The training was organised for Community Based Organisations (CBOs), Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), Community Based Facilitators (CBFs), and service providers to review project progress and prepare farmers for crop insurance for the next crop season. The project is  funded by the Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU) with support from the Mastercard Foundation.

#Youthinagribusiness #cassava #cropinsurance

 

AfrII’s CAVA Project benefits over one million cassava value chain actors

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AfrII’s CAVA project impacted over one million persons –youths, women and men, who directly and indirectly benefitted from the project. The beneficiaries are; Small Holder Farmers (SHFs), Community Processing Groups (CPGs) and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) who processed their own or procured Fresh Cassava Roots (FCRs) from SHFs; bulking agents who purchased either cassava grits or chips from processors and milled them into flour to sell to end users; Workers and employees of smallholder and commercial cassava farmers, processing end use industries, and flour millers and traders.

 

The CAVA project worked across the cassava value chains, specifically focusing on increasing smallholders’ productivity; expanding and developing processing capacity; and expanding products options, market opportunities and geographies. CAVA was funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation through the Natural Resources Institute-University of Greenwich, UK.

Read more here https://www.afrii.org/programmes/cassava-adding-value-for-africa-project-cava/

AfrII builds collaboration with NOVA University of Lisbon

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The AfrII Chairman, Prof. Otim-Nape, a visiting professor at NOVA University of Lisbon, Portugal, on Friday 24th May delivered a lecture, “How we applied biotechnology to resolve the cassava mosaic disease problem in Uganda” to plant biotechnology staff and PhD students at the University. A copy of his presentation is available here.

The Institute and University are in talks over collaboration on topics of mutual interest.

He is in Lisbon up to the 28th May 2019 and will engage in a few other meetings with potential partners during his visit.

Prof. Otim-Nape in a photo with Prof. Margarida Oliviera of NOVA University Lisbon in front of the University building

 

Prof. delivers his lecture to the Nova University Plant Biotechnology staff and PhD students.

Reporting Gender Dis-aggregated Data in climate action.

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By Felly Tusiime, Sylvia Ayebare, Elizabeth Ahumuza, and Arthur Kimeeze

 

Participants at the CBIT write shop at the Ministry of Water and Environment-Climate Change Department.

 

May 2019– On 16th and 17th, the CBIT Uganda project hosted a two-day training write shop on analysis, reporting and publication of gender dis-aggregated data on climate change and GHG inventory at the Ministry of Water and Environment-Climate Change Department.  27 participants including 15 females and 12 males from the Climate Change Department, Ministry of Water and Environment; Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development; National Environment Management Authority and the Africa Innovations Institute attended the write-shop.

 

The training was conducted by gender consultants from Makerere University including Prof. Gorettie Nabanoga, Dr. Justine Namalwa, and Mr Anthony Tugaineyo, in three sessions:

  1. Gender related concepts;
  2. Gender Mainstreaming in GHG Inventory and
  3. Data collection, analysis and use of gender disaggregated data. The general approach to the training was participatory.

 

Gender related concepts.

The consultants led the participants through an open discussion on the differences between sex and gender concepts. It was clarified that ‘sex’ entails biological characteristics of male and female as identified at birth while ‘gender’ on the other hand was considered to entail the roles and responsibilities, rights and limitations ascribed by society and culture to males or females. The discussion clarified that gender roles are learnt and listed examples; reproductive roles, the productive roles, community roles and political roles.

L-R: Mr. Anthony Tugaineyo, Prof. Gorettie Nabanoga and Dr. Justine Namalwa, the gender consultants from Makerere University.

 

The discussion also addressed gender needs and these were clustered as either basic/ practical gender needs or as strategic gender needs. ‘Basic gender needs’ relate to working and living conditions such as health care, income, dwellings, food and water among others whereas ‘strategic needs’ relate to power and relations and change according to the specific social, economic and political situation an individual finds oneself in.

The discussion then took a turn to consider the question of gender equity versus equality. ‘Equity’ refers to both men and women having a fair chance of their needs being met while ‘Equality’ on the other hand refers to equal opportunity to access and enjoy socially valued goods, opportunities, resources and rewards by men and women. The session concluded with a discussion on the distinction between sex disaggregated data and gender disaggregated data. The major distinction was found to be in the ‘who’ and ‘what’ questions. While the sex disaggregated data seeks to know ‘who does what’; gender disaggregated data further seeks to answer the ‘why’ question. It explores reasons why the category of female and male relate to the socio-economic attributes e.g. religion, wealth, education etc.

After this session, the participants were invited to take part in an exercise with 2 sketch questions to lead the plenary and discussions thereafter:

  1. “Are the gender roles a connotation of the sex of the individual?”
  2. “Is gender equality attained after ensuring gender equity?”

These questions served as a thought bridge to the second session of the write shop: gender mainstreaming in the GHG inventory.

 

Gender mainstreaming in the GHG inventory.

This more practical session centered on the gender concerns in the GHG inventory and the steps in mainstreaming gender in GHG inventory. The steps in chronological order are:

  1. Prepare
  2. Process Planning
  3. Design and Data Collection
  4. Data Entry and Analysis; and
  5. Reporting

This session was guided by separate questions for the 5 target sector hubs and the Climate Change Department (CCD). The question directed specifically to CCD was, “What is expected in the national GHG inventory” while two questions were directed to the sector hubs

1)What is expected in your sectoral GHG inventory” and

2) “Identify the sources and sinks of emissions in your sector.”

 

 

The practical exercise was extended to cover the questions:

  1. What activity data has been collected in your sector?
  2. What are the implications of unavailable activity data to the reporting requirements?
  3. What must be done to improve the accuracy of GHG emission computations?

To trigger a gender lens, the participants were further prompted to discuss and record/respond to the following:

  1. Identify the pertinent gender issues that relate to the sectoral GHG emissions.
  2. What gender dimensions (intersecting factors) have been addressed in the GHG inventory system?
  3. Which potential gender dimensions need to be addressed in the GHG Inventory process?

These discussions closed day 1 and were an entry point for session 3 of the write-shop.

 

 

Session 3 (day 2) covered the main steps in mainstreaming gender in the GHGI reporting process and the utilization of gender disaggregated information in reporting on transparency requirements. Representatives from the 5 target sectors; Agriculture, Water, Forestry, Waste, and Transport made presentations on the status of the GHG inventory process and proposed changes to engender the data collection process.

 

It was noted that all sectors needed to engender the GHG data inventory in order to make GHG and climate change reporting more informative.

Mr. Choice Agaba of NARO presenting results from the Agriculture sector during the needs assessment meeting at CCD

 

Mr. Keith Ahumuza of UBOS presenting results from the waste sector

 

Key takeaways from the training write-shop for the participants included the need by all partners to understand gender and the related concepts in order to appreciate its relevance in the sectoral GHG inventory.

They were also made to understand that Gender is beyond the meaning of the word ‘sex’.

Also important was for them to note that every sector should have Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the design and implementation of the inventory. These should include descriptions of the methodologies used in the estimations, data sources and the institutional arrangements for the preparation of the inventory.

 

All sectors were prompted to design new tools tailored to have gender disaggregated data for effective reporting on climate action.

The participants were made to appreciate the fact that gender analysis enables them to identify the change agents for addressing climate change and thus successful implementation of climate actions; GHG Inventory, progress made on delivering NDCs, Climate Change impacts and adaptation and capacity building, funds and technology transfer.

 

The reflections / practical questions delivered to the participants was intended to trigger actions to enable the sectors embrace the gender lens and in the planning and implementation of climate change actions. During the planning, ensure there is gender responsive budgeting to efficiently utilize gender disaggregated information.

 

The overall outcome of this very participatory training write-shop was positive, with interest and commitments from the sectors to apply lessons learnt, and committed themselves to put into practice, the knowledge and skills provided during the training to engender the national reporting systems on climate change action.

Special appreciation /acknowledgement for the successful play out of the training write-shop goes to the CBIT Project implementing partners; The Ministry of Water and Environment-Climate Change Department (CCD) and the Africa Innovations Institute. We also appreciate all participants / representatives that turned up for the training.

 

The CBIT Uganda project is equally grateful to the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and Conservation International (CI) for the funding support towards the success of the project activities in Uganda.

FLASH DRYING TECHNOLOGY- An Investors Extraordinary Journey With The New Technology In Uganda

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For a long time, farmers engaged in cassava processing in the Lango region had faced burdens of processing cassava during the rainy seasons. The bad weather during this season always affected the quality of the cassava flour.

Chipped or grated cassava would take longer to dry and would be highly contaminated by extraneous materials. Introduced from Nigeria in 2016, the flash dryer, a high precision indoor modern cassava drying technology, came at an opportune time.

The technology, makes processing independent of weather, so processors can dry their cassava throughout the year irrespective of weather. This sent many processors smiling after an upgrade from open air processing to the new technology that offers the best answer to weather challenges especially during the wet seasons.

The flash dryer is a state of the art machine designed to dry wet cassava mash, extracted from the cassava graters, into High Quality Cassava Flour (HQCF) within 3 seconds, making it ready for human and commercial use. The flash dryer can process 3 to 7 tons of HQCF per day.

This technology was introduced by the CAVA project in 2016.  Two potential investors from Northern Uganda; Wind Wood Millers Limited in Lira municipality and Adyaka Wholesalers Limited in Apac district picked interest in the multi-million-dollar investment after partaking in a study trip to Malawi to witness the machine at work.

They were amazed at the entire process and decided to come back home and adopt the technology after realizing the benefits including the potential to create employment for more than 2,000 smallholder farmers working as out growers supplying fresh cassava roots to the factories.

Mr. Ivan Okori, Managing Director, WindWood Millers Ltd

Ivan Okori, the Director, Windwood Millers Limited Cassava factory speaks to local Tv and radio press on the profitability of the flash drying technology and the benefits of the technology to the communities in Lira district and beyond.

Ivan Okori, 32 years, is a young shrewd down to earth business man from Kole district, Northern Uganda. He is the Managing Director of Windwood Millers Limited (WML) cassava factory. Ivan has been in the cassava business for close to 10 years. However, his journey with cassava begun way back because for as long as he can remember, cassava has been a very big part of his life.

I grew up seeing cassava, surviving off it and understanding the potential of what it offered meant for my community and region”

If every member of the community owns at least an acre of cassava and earns about 1000 USD per season, it would mean a lot for the development of the community. Children would be able to attain a good education, there would be food security and improved nutrition due to the proceeds and also the fact that cassava has the necessary shock-proofing compared to other crops that are susceptible to drought.” says Ivan.

The story of Wind Wood Millers Ltd cassava factory

Wind Wood Millers Limited was incorporated on August 2011 in Lira district, Northern Uganda. Initially, the company dealt with rice production until 2013 when it embraced cassava. During this time, CAVA had already engaged with the company and extended the project outreach programmes to develop the factory to venture into High Quality Cassava Flour (HQCF) processing.

By this time, I had seen the potential of cassava growing so fast, and I was among the first people that worked with Uganda breweries limited (UBL), a beer company that needed cassava to brew their popular Ngule and Senator beer brands. So, I started aggregating and sourcing for them this raw material. CAVA had been aware of our push towards cassava and were interested in finding flexible businesses that had high potential for growth as SMEs in areas the project targeted. And from that we had initial contact and engaged in discussions to jointly tread the journey.

And so, we walked with them through the journey of working with farmer groups, having these tested, analyzing them and meeting the potential markets. We have been with them through the whole journey to this day of us having the flash dryer. We worked with mainly 17 farmer groups from Eastern and Northern Uganda through the CAVA Project that reached out to farmers and extended skills in good agricultural practices, trained them in using new processing technologies and also availed these technologies to the farmers, especially the use of raised metallic drying technologies to obtain a quality product ready for the market.

These farmers were trained to hygienically handle and dry the cassava at the right time so that its potential qualities like the starch remain intact. CAVA set a precedent away from the traditional ways/ methods of placing it directly on the floor which highly compromised quality and these interventions greatly revamped the cassava value chain.

My work as an aggregator was made easy. I sourced for quality chips from the farmers who were by this time organized into farmer groups. After I got the chips from the farmers, I milled this into flour and supplied to the brewery but also the local markets especially the composite flour millers and bakeries. The product was to the standards expected by the markets- very good quality.” Ivan adds that since the interventions, the crops potential has widened. “Today, cassava price has doubled more to what it was that time.

In some uses, it has twice doubled and I think the potential is even greater if we follow through what other countries are doing with it, for example, Thailand and other western countries that have maximally used cassava way down to glue making, glucose /fructose production, and other industrial applications. Every month am surprised by what comes up. I have seen that cassava can do paperboard and so far, the trials to apply it have been quite successful and that is a market we are working to tap into.

I have also recently got to learn that cassava can be used to make a certain type of cement. This is amazing.  And, with all these developments, I see cassava as a crop of the future and am also glad that Wind Wood Millers is at the fore front of pushing to ensure that the cassava future is bright not just for us or the communities we work for but also beyond.” remarks a smiling Ivan.

Ivan says that the factory is located in the area because it is known to be a cassava basin and this favors its presence there.

Mr. Okori, the Director, Windwood Millers Limited Cassava factory (left) and employees, process fresh cassava root into High Quality Cassava Flour (HQCF) using the flash drying technology.

 

His journey to acquiring the technology

In 2015, Ivan was selected and facilitated by the CAVA project to visit Malawi to experience and witness first-hand the flash drying technology. And just like Mr. Sam Opio of Adyaka Whole Salers cassava factory, he too acquired the investment that CAVA supported him to obtain. Today, he and Opio are the only two investors of the now fully operational cassava factories in Lira and Apac districts, in Northern Uganda.

He passionately speaks of how he was inspired to take on the investment. “When in Malawi, I had quite some interesting experiences from which I learnt a lot.  I interacted with a young gentleman not more than 4 years older than me who had a 400acre cassava farm.

I had never in my life seen so much cassava, funny, because you would think growing up seeing cassava gardens all around me, I had seen all the cassava there needs to be seen, but NO! apparently, I had not. This, to me was an interesting challenge and was the initial spark / drive to scale up my gardens.

Then I saw the cassava factory in operation and was quite amazed at how the HQCF was produced in just seconds, and the same product was being used to make biscuits. This also blew me away.

I really liked the consistency with which they were able to buy/use fresh cassava root, process it, dry it, pack it and take it to the production site of the biscuit company and produce an end product ready for the market.

This all got me seriously thinking, ‘if they could do it, so can I’. And when I returned, my mind was already sold into it all. And the reason I was quick to take up this technology was due to the consistency in production quantity and quality of the end product.”  says a cheery Ivan.

 

Challenges with acquisition of the Flash dryer

Ivan narrates the struggles he endured with acquiring the multi-million-dollar investment.

This was quite a tough journey. First of all, the model was from Nigeria and so had to be shipped here. Also, all through the process, we were very much convinced that the agro processing machinery was tax exempt and so, our financial base at the time the dryer was coming in was mainly focused on just setting up the factory housing structure based on the designs availed by the NOBEX Technologies engineering team from Nigeria.

But, when the machinery came, we were shocked to discover it was not tax exempt. This was a blow that cost us about 17,000USD. It was a tough battle that took about 6 months and we lost quite some money in it. Tuning the machines took a very long time of close to about 2 years and the greatest challenge post installation has been the cost of fuel to run the machinery.”

He also mentions that to address this, there are approaches being applied by the company to tackle the fuel challenges. “We first of all are working to retune the machines to use less fuel. We conducted a market study for the different clients, understood what they require and are giving them exactly that. We segmented our product lines and are creating different variety products of very high grade, middle and more affordable grades.

All these efforts are so that we cut fuel consumption by over 50%.” The factory is currently producing different grades of quality flour to satisfy the different target markets.

Ivan feels there is a huge lesson to learn from the entire experience. “The lesson around this is that if we were to do it again, we would be best prepared on how to handle this especially seeking prior exemption before the machines are on their destination from the original countries.”

 

Challenges in the flash drying business thus far

He narrates the challenges in the business. “Sometimes there is scarcity of cassava root and this causes a hike in buying price. We are also not yet certified which is keeping us out of penetrating the international markets, and these are many because they have a high utilization capacity for the cassava flour since it is gluten free.” Ivan also mentions that they are still faced with challenges in marketing the HQCF product because there is still little knowledge on its potential use and application in different industries.

He also points out that there is still need to replicate the model to a more affordable and less man power intensive enterprise. “Given that there are different stages in the flash drying process, this somewhat slows down the drying process and we feel that we are not utilizing it to its fullest capacity. Along the way, there is peeling and we currently use peelers but the job is still not a hundred percent. This can greatly affect the end product. Aside from that, the cassava needed is a lot and the processes are tedious, because there is peeling, washing, pressing, and to be honest, if these were automated, it would save us a lot more money.”

 

Benefits of the technology

Ivan, despite the struggles, confesses that the investment is one of the best decisions he has made in life for he sees a bright future ahead. “The market for HQCF is quite big and we are tirelessly working hard to hit this market. The companies I supply to are very impressed with my HQCF and I look forward to a long working relationship with these because they have appreciated how using local raw material like cassava flour has greatly contributed to cutting down on their costs of production. For example, they attest that the product has impacted on their industry targets because they save about 400 UGX per kilogram purchased. These save between 5000 to 8000 USD monthly by buying our flour.”

He further notes that the investment has enabled them create high level products that are able to meet the different industry demands with quality and consistency. This has informed the company to come up with the right price for the different target industries.  “By using the technology, we are able to measure improvements in productivity, thus enabling us save time and costs. There is a huge efficiency saving in using the dryer and it’s a whole different production process which is less tedious than having to depend on weather. With this, we are assured of a consistent quality product that leaves a client happy and satisfied.

He also attests that the investment has landed him more partnerships and elevated his stature as an SME in the Lango sub region. “We have secured more markets stretching to as far as South Sudan due to a strong network created over the years. WML has a pool of farmers that have reached out to us for planting material and this offers a basic drive to develop our communities. We also have a pool of companies, NGOs, Government initiatives that want to promote cassava and look at us as the best example to promote cassava because of what and how we’re doing it.

We are tapping into all these markets that are readily available to consume all this cassava flour. CAVA has helped us establish the profitability of the machine and linked us to all these markets that we have to keep happy by ensuring timely provision of the product.” We have to maximize our opportunities using the Flash dryer. It is seasonal. Come rain or shine, it runs. Out-growers are awed by the technology and amazed by the fact that it dries cassava within seconds rather than what they are used to of hours and hours, days, and sometimes weeks of drying.

 

Innovations fostering the business / operations

Ivan states that the company is benefitting from other partner programmes secured by new partnerships formed. He attributes this exposure to linkages created by CAVA. “We have a partnership with GOAL Uganda and this has broadened our reach to other districts like Agago.

We also have a partnership with the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation that has given us a grant. This has enabled us acquire a new technology like the automated press and is supporting us to secure certification from UNBS. We also have a partnership in progress with GIZ. All these, we believe are avenues that are pushing us further and further to achieve our goal.”

Ivan also mentions that the factory has embraced use of ICTs to digitize the relevant information needed to boost business. “We are in the era of technology and we realize that to be successful, we have to move in that line. And so, we formed a partnership with ThinVoid, an IT company that is helping us design a farmer identification App to enable us track the duration of farmer gardens, and monitor them up to harvest.

Through new innovations, we are pushing to have as many farmers as we can. The target is 10,000 but we are currently working with 1000 that have been contracted to supply FCR to sustain factory operations on a daily basis

Ivan is one of the youth highly recognized in cassava production and processing in Northern Uganda and has ventured into programs to support fellow youth to access clean planting material at a subsidized fee in order to sustain production for not only the factory but also ensure these have an assured income and food at home. He is a champion of the youth in agribusiness initiative that has seen 4,710 youth in the region, benefit in the cassava business.  

“All these efforts are geared towards ensuring consistency in root supply. The Flash Dryer is sky rocketing processing of fresh cassava tubers into HQCF. It guarantees constant processing of fresh tubers into quality flour, irrespective of the weather burdens. We no longer rely on sunshine to guarantee output,” says Ivan.

Mr. Okori in his quality cassava garden from which farmers in the region have readily accessed the material for multiplication so as to sustain fresh root supply to the factory.

 

Okori endorses investment in the technology

As a pioneer in the flash drying technology, Ivan encourages more investors to acquire the technology.

“It’s been a long journey. We have travelled it with tears, smiles and uncertainty along the way but here we were, standing strong amidst it all. If we did it, you too can do it, so yes, get the machine. We have set the pace and there are many lessons you can learn from our experiences, and we are readily available for any inquiries. Do a lot of market research, be creative and also be very patient with this investment. It is a long-term plan that comes with a lot of patience.

I highly recommend the technology to other processors. However, I advise that due to raw material concerns, they should be at arrange of about 150km from one another.

I also encourage fellow SMEs and farmers to plant more cassava because we are ready to consume it, work with them, ready to train them on the production and processing innovations and share our thoughts about cassava and create a market for it. Work with them and the future of cassava to our community.”

CAVA II restores Farm Uganda’s cassava business to get bigger profits using the batch drying technology

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The Farm Uganda cassava batch dryer factory located in Kigumba, Kiryandongo district in Central Uganda.

Farm Uganda, is an agro processing company which has been in operation since 2008. It is located in Kigumba sub county in Kiryandongo district, Central Uganda and deals mainly in commercial farming, milling, packaging and trading of maize corn flour, white sorghum, and cassava flour. The company is co-owned by Mr. Sosimu Twesiga, Mr. Bamutaze Julius and Mr. Kalihanyu Claudio. Before 2015 and 2016, when the cassava projects; the Agricultural Technology Transfer (AgriTT) and Cassava Adding Value for Africa (CAVA) intervened respectively, the company faced a number of challenges including low quality and low volumes of cassava flour produced for the available markets like Uganda Breweries Limited (UBL) and the composite market users around Metropolitan Kampala, South Sudan and Rwanda. The company is the biggest supplier of cassava flour to the brewery that consumes about 3000 metric tons annually to brew the locally popular Ngule and Senator beer brands. Mr. Sosimu Twesiga, the business co-owner tells their story with the AgriTT and CAVA journeys using the cassava batch dryer technology.

Sosimu states that the company had been working with the brewery since 2012 but faced so many challenges especially around cassava production and processing. Farmers were growing the disease susceptible materials, and drying the processed cassava was hectic especially in the rainy season. He adds that the drying method was very rudimentary leading to contamination of the product greatly affecting its quality to meet the market parameters. “Cassava flour was highly needed by the brewery for beer processing. However, post-harvest handling was so poor and we faced a big challenge of quality and meeting required volumes of the product for the brewery that had specific parameters of what they needed. After several rejections of the product, we then realized a need for a strategy and so came an idea to acquire a processing machine and also adopt better production technologies to counter the challenges.” remarks Sosimu.

Sosim recounts the company’s journey since the AgriTT and CAVA project interventions. “Through UBL’s Agriculture Manager, Mr. Joseph Kawuuki we were made aware of the project that was working around cassava transformation in the areas of production and processing of High Quality Cassava Flour (HQCF). In 2015, Joseph linked me to the CAVA Uganda team that took us on, guided, mentored and availed us a lot of information and technical skills on how to boost our cassava business.

Through the team, I was made aware of the Agricultural Technology Transfer (AgriTT) project from which the company could greatly benefit. The Project would facilitate us to set up a modern cassava processing facility using the drying technology from China known as the batch dryer. This efficient equipment comprising of a bin dryer, cassava slicer, peeler, conveyor belt and miller would give Farm Uganda a comparative advantage over her competitors in the production and consistent supply of cassava flour that is of a higher quality and available all year round. We wrote a proposal highlighting our challenges around cassava production and processing to meet the market demand with consistent supply of a quality product. Farm Uganda won the project to which we were required to buy land and construct the processing shed. This cost us over 200 Million Uganda shillings. We successfully completed the construction and around December 2016, the machinery was brought in from China along with 2 Chinese engineers who installed, commissioned and trained the factory operators on how to use it. However, by the time all this was effected, the project life span had more less run out and the latter was done in a limited time of about only 7 days which was not sufficient. Since the training and commissioning of the system were limitedly done, this left us somewhat stuck because after the Chinese team left, the factory technicians with their limited technical know-how run the system and in the process, the original automated boiler got burnt. This befell us around February 2017 after the AgriTT project had closed, leaving us stuck and puzzled until CAVA came in and salvaged the situation.

The damaged boiler after it was burnt during processing

 

 

 

CAVA intervenes to address the AgriTT batch dryer situation to restore the company’s hope

Sosimu narrates how the Cassava Adding value for Africa Phase Two Project (CAVA 11) eased the company’s troubles. “During the entire process after the boiler was damaged in February 2017 and the machine became ‘a white elephant’, CAVA Uganda never abandoned us, and, since we had worked together under the AgriTT project, the relations came in handy. The CAVA Uganda Country Manager, Mr. Francis Alacho got into endless contact with partners from the Natural Resources Institute(NRI), UK seeking guidance and assistance on the matter, and their response was positive. Around June 2017, NRI sent Engineer Andrew Merchant who visited the sight, assessed the whole system and came up with a detailed report with recommendations to the systems boiler. There on around August 2017, I received good news from Mr. Alacho that CAVA had accepted to replace the boiler at no cost. Plans around this started with Engineer Andrew making a new boiler design that was fabricated in Nairobi and in May 2018, Engineer Andrew came and installed the new boiler along with a water system which was originally not there. He changed the boiler automations into manual setup and thoroughly trained the factory technicians on its operation. Our sincere gratitude towards this milestone goes to CAVA and NRI for restoring our hope past the ‘storm’. We are so excited because we are back in business and I can proudly say that since replacement, the new boiler is working quite well and the system is now fully functional.”  says a cheerful Sosimu.

Mr. Sosimu Twesiga (left) shows off the new boiler that Engineer Andrew Merchant installed to ease processing at the factory

NRI Engineer Dr. Andrew Merchant (second left) after successful installation of the new boiler at the Farm Uganda Cassava processing factory. Also in the photo is Farm Uganda Co Director, Mr. Sosimu Twesiga (orange vest) with part of his factory team

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sosimu further speaks about CAVA’s mediations to the factory. “We have been trained in good post- harvest handling and processing of cassava roots into High Quality Cassava Chips/Flour (HQCC/F). CAVA introduced us to the open raised drying technology, provided us with the raised metallic drying racks and trained us in the process to obtain HQCF. We have also been linked to new markets. We are yet to sign a contract to supply 600kgs per day of HQCF to Riham- Harris International for biscuit manufacturing because they highly appreciate the quality. The batch dryer enables sustained supply of raw materials for the available markets since it produces large quantities. It processes about 4.6 tons per shift in a day if the process is well managed. “This machine is very incredible. We complete the entire value chain within just hours in a day. We receive fresh cassava root from the farmers at 8am and by 4:00pm that very day, we are already selling a finished product from what the farmer has sold to us as fresh root. The machine dries the processed chips in a period of between 4 to 6 hours before it is milled into HQCF that meets all the parameters ready for the target markets. And by the way, we often make a meal out of some of the flour and enjoy it as a family here at the factory’ smiles Sosimu.

Left: Sosimu shows off the processed High Quality Cassava Chips and Right; He tastes some of the milled High Quality Cassava Flour ready for the market

 

 

 

 

Farm Uganda’s Fresh Cassava Roots supply model to sustain fresh root supply

The location identified for the cassava processing facility is in an urban Centre close to cassava production areas. To ensure consistent and timely supply of Fresh Cassava Root (FCR) to the factory, the company established a fresh roots supply model so as to enable continuous production of HQCF to meet the annual marketing targets. The company uses an out-grower scheme to achieve its annual fresh root requirement. It has entered contractual agreements with large scale cassava farmers like David Onya who owns about 300 acres of cassava in Kigumba. Another cassava farmer that supplies fresh root to Farm Uganda is Hully Akiza who owns over 150 acres. Other large-scale farmers have 200 acres plus and these also supply the company with resh cassava roots. The company also engages smallholder farmers that have at least a hectare of cassava with a yield potential of more than 12tons/ha. This has been made possible with the contractual 141 famer groups Farm Uganda has engaged with in Kiryandongo and Masindi districts. Additionally, Farm Uganda owns a 200acre demonstration farm that supplements the factory with fresh root in case of limited supply from the out growers. Other strategies around increasing supply to meet this demand are encouraging and promoting the use of the sun drying technology within the 141 farmer groups. Farm Uganda set up a 3acre demo garden of NASE 14 at the factory to train farmers in Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) but also avail them multiplication material. “We are also encouraging the famers to venture into value addition and supply the company with already processed High Quality Cassava Chips (HQCC) that we can then mill into flour. These farmers have been extended skills and knowledge in new cassava production and processing technologies. We believe that by building their capacity we are solving issues around unstable supply of fresh roots from the smallholder farmers but also encouraging them to grow into large scale producers of fresh cassava root. These have appreciated and are continuously practicing the new knowledge.”

Benefits since the projects- As Farm Uganda and the people in Kigumba, Kiryandongo district

The benefits are countless” he recounts and attributes all these achievements to the exposure gained through the projects. “Originally, Farm Uganda didn’t have land, and most of all we didn’t have such a building. My two business partners and I are also looking healthy and good because we have peace of mind since the factory is now fully in business. Our business is also growing, and we now receive many clients. I am also interacting with a number of NGOs working with cassava farmers. I was recently contacted by an NGO working with 15 districts in Northern Uganda to supply Farm Uganda with fresh cassava root. Also, as a company, our sales have increased. Prices by then were at 850 UGX a kilo but we now sell at 1,270 UGX a kilo of HQCF to the brewery and we feel that if we cause an impact, the prices will increase.

He adds that the community is also greatly benefitting. There is access to electricity and an improved road network. ‘when we got here in 2016, the road was impassable. The trucks ferrying the factory’s construction materials faced so many challenges, the road was narrow then and trucks skidded when it rained. But since the project, the Kiryandongo local government improved the road network to ease accessibility.’ Besides that, local farmers now have assured market for their FCR, and the issue of unemployment has been partly checked. The factory employs four permanent staff and casual laborers including 30 women peelers who are each paid UGX 1,000 per wheelbarrow of cassava peeled and also earn an additional UGX 500 per heap of peeled cassava roots washed. The additional casual laborers are youths that are paid about 60,000/- UGX for their labor.

Personal benefits and Company future plans

Sosimu narrates how his life and that of his 2 business associates has since changed. “Through my personal savings, I managed to recently move into my own house in Gayaza on which I spent over 100 Million UGX on construction, my children are in good schools and life is going on well. My other two colleagues are also progressing. Mr. Bamutaze is actually my neighbor in Gayaza at his own place that he constructed at close to 100 Million UGX while Mr. Kalihanyu bought a 50acre plot of land that cost him 50 Million UGX to expand his farming business.  

A cheerful Sosimu adds “My team and I sit and strategize on how to move the business and win new clients but also share on each other’s personal growth plans and assist each other to achieve these. We have developed a new factory 10year plan for an extension to a fully- fledged processing unit in one place comprising of the dryers, storage facilities, weighing facilities-weigh bridge, cassava peelers, slicers and milling machines. We want to see this whole area turned into an industrial park and with one control system under one roof, we shall be unstoppable.”

As a pioneer of the technology, Sosimu advises interested investors to highly consider the batch dryer technology “The available dryer is smaller than the capacity of the market and if it will increase beyond that, we still need as more batch dryers as we can get so as to manage the growing market. The product is now needed more than ever. The confectionery market is large and this material is needed in lump sum. So, if someone out there wants this technology, I strongly encourage them to get it’s fantastic, manageable and very cost effective as it uses fuel wood.

The Cassava Adding Value for Africa Phase Two (CAVA II) Project supports adding value and commercialization of cassava in Africa. CAVA II Uganda has successfully developed value chains for HQCF, by supporting investors to establish HQCF processing sites in Eastern, Northern and Central Uganda. It has also facilitated processors to supply on contract arrangements, HQCF, to end user industries such as rural bakeries, beer breweries and biscuit manufacturers who use it to make composite flour, beer and biscuits respectively. The project is implemented in 4 other African countries of Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania and Malawi.

CAVA II is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation through the Natural Resources Institute-University of Greenwich, UK.

AfrII and Partners push for an integrated data system to achieve sustainable development in Uganda

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AfrII in partnership with Conservation International (CI) successfully convened the “Essential Ecosystems for Climate and Sustainable Development” meeting that was held on Tuesday 6th November 2018 at Golden Tulip Hotel in Kampala, for stakeholders to identify and recommend opportunities for incorporating ecosystems into national and sub national planning for climate change and sustainable development in Uganda.

The purpose of the meeting was to present highlights of the findings on a study jointly conducted by AfrII and CI on Uganda’s NDCs and get stakeholder feedback after they review the findings.

“We carried out this work through close engagement with you as key stakeholders and partners.  We therefore need you all to engage in assessing the results so as to get your views and thoughts on whether it is relevant and also look into how it can be applied and what more is needed because this is important work for the country since Uganda depends a lot on agriculture” said Dr. Peter Alele, the Africa Field Director at Conservation International, while addressing the participants.

The meeting objectives were to; discuss the importance of natural capital in development and climate change, share research on natural capital mapping and policy gaps, identify strengths and weaknesses of natural capital approach and Articulate next steps for addressing information and policy gaps.

 

 

CI’s Dr. Pamela M. Collins (standing) presents to stakeholders’ findings on the role of forests in climate and sustainable development

 

Meanwhile, The AfrII Chairman Prof. William Otim-Nape mentioned the need for a data integration process to improve data sharing among government departments and the private sector. “Data is essential as a basis for policy decisions but it remains scattered across government institutions and private companies and users cannot readily access it. It is important therefore that we have an integrated data system to have the available data sourced for by the different institutions placed into this common pool to be readily and easily accessible by anyone in order to achieve sustainable development.”

The meeting was attended by various stakeholders including officials from the Ministries of Agriculture, Water and Environment, The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), National Forestry Authority (NFA), National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO), Uganda National Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), Makerere University, selected NGOs, private sector and international development partners.

I can see a bright future ahead thanks to opportunities from the flash dryer investment in Uganda

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Vicky Ajok is a 23-year-old female from Agnogno Ogengo Village in Kole District, Northern Uganda. She works as the Assistant Manager at Wind Wood Millers Limited Flash Dryer factory in Lira district. With this job, she earns a monthly salary of 180,000 UGX. The factory employs 11 full time workers and 20part time employees that include cassava peelers, manual laborers and also farmers whose labor is hired. “Working at the factory has given me a good life for I am greatly benefitting and making money. I am grateful for this opportunity made possible by the CAVA Project.” With this employment, Ajok is quite proud of her accomplishments. “I am able to pay my younger sisters school fees of 370,000 UGX required per term. She is in Senior 4 at TopStar Secondary School in Lira district. Personally, I have a 2acre cassava garden of the NASE 14 improved variety that I planted in march 2018.”  However, before the cassava business, Ajok was into livestock rearing that earned her some money. “I had 3 piglets and 8 goats. I sold off 2 of my piglets at 180,000 UGX.  I also sold all the 8 goats at 70,000 UGX and with the proceeds, I hired land at 280,000 UGX to grow my cassava.”

 

Ajok (standing) supervises laborers engaged in peeling fresh cassava root for processing at the factory

Ajok is among the beneficiaries of the seed initiative the factory adopted with backing from the CAVA Project. Through this initiative, over 400 youths in Lango sub region have attained high yielding disease tolerant cassava varieties at a subsidized fee of 15,000 UGX per bag of stems. These will be able to supply fresh cassava root to the factory, earn money but also have food at home. “CAVA has also greatly benefitted other youths that are now able to access good seed. It has opened assured market for them to sell their fresh cassava root. They are also able to cater for school fees, clear medical bills and enjoy other benefits. Others have even opened up businesses.”  She adds “I am also yet to earn more money when I begin supplying fresh root to the factory that buys at 120 UGX per kilo. I have seen that the stems business is quite profitable as well that is why I chose to grow cassava. Aside from trainings in GAPs that CAVA has extended to us, we have also been trained on quality control to obtain HQCF and with this knowledge and skills, in future, I want to supply processed quality chips to the factory so that I get more money.” Aside from cassava, she also, has a garden of soya bean that she earns from.

 

The factory staff at Wind Wood Millers Limited process HQCF, a product highly consumed by large industries in Uganda. Ajok (slightly bending) helps out in packaging the processed HQCF.

Ajok is struggling with transportation challenges since her home is quite a distance from work. Because of this, she plans to purchase a bicycle that to ease her transportation troubles. “I sometimes use a bicycle and this charges me 1000 UGX. When unavailable, I use a boda boda (motorcycle) and this charges me 2000 UGX per trip. When I calculated my transport fares I found that I spend a lot and that is why I want to buy a bicycle. I have already looked around and it will cost me 280,000 UGX. However, from my small savings, I have so far managed to pay 150,000 UGX.” Ajok hopes that by the end of the year, 2018 she will have the bicycle.

Her bigger dream is to save up enough money to go back to school and study Tourism and Hotel Management. “I dream of being somebody in life. Someone influential in society, and this opportunity at the factory is slowly getting me in reach of my dreams.” Ajok studied up to Senior 6 level at Secondary School. She could not further her education since her peasant parents could no longer afford it. She then embarked on a journey just like of any other youth out there- struggle to make ends meet.

Being young, thrilled, at her first job and seemingly inexperienced with handling money, Vicky has a plan. “Sometimes when you have money within reach, you can be tempted to use it anyhow, especially for less important things. I therefore intend to open up a personal savings bank account so that I properly manage my finances. I have taken on a lot of responsibilities and I want to be able to save up so that I can achieve bigger things in future.”

Ajok’s story is one relatable to lots of youth in Uganda today that are faced with life’s challenges and are looking for a better life through employment. Ajok is among the lucky ones. Her dreams are coming to life, thanks to the CAVA Project that has availed opportunities to the youth, women and men through beneficial community projects.  The Project facilitated the successful installation of two cassava factories in Northern Uganda; Windwood Millers Limited and Adyaka Wholesalers Limited in Lira and Apac districts respectively. CAVA Uganda has reached over 24,000 people engaged in the cassava value chain of processing, production and marketing. These include smallholder farmers, Community Processing Groups (CPGs), Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), and aggregators in the project areas of Central, Eastern and Northern Uganda.

The CAVA project is implemented in five African Countries of Nigeria, Ghana, Malawi, Tanzania and Uganda with support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) through the Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, (NRI).

Journalists urged to report more on agriculture to trigger total transformation of the sector

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Prof Otim-Nape emphasizes to journalists their key involvement in transforming Uganda’s agricultural sector through continuous reporting on the issues about the sector

Prof Otim-Nape emphasizes to journalists their key involvement in transforming Uganda’s agricultural sector through continuous reporting on the issues about the sector

 

The Africa Innovations Institute (AfrII) Chairman, Prof. George William Otim-Nape has called on Journalists in Uganda to sensitize and mobilize farmers and other practitioners to adopt modern agricultural practices and urge these to view farming as a business not a hobby. He said that there is need to report more on agriculture so that people can have food on the table. “Media has a key role to change people’s mindset to move away from subsistence agriculture and focus on commercial agriculture.” Says Nape.

He made the remarks this morning when giving an overview of Uganda’s Agricultural Policy and Management: An expert talk at the public policy reporting workshop for journalists at the African Centre for Media Excellence hub in Bunga, kampala.

He also asked them to mobilize youths for attitude and mind-set change in favor of engaging in gainful employment in the agricultural value chains, as well as mobilize the masses on the need for responsible use of the natural resource base so as to achieve sustainable utilization for the current and future generations in endlessness.

Prof. Otim-Nape listens to a journalist during the media workshop at the ACME in Bunga

Prof. Otim-Nape listens to a journalist during the media workshop at the ACME in Bunga

Professor Nape emphasized that the media needs to understand and appreciate the critical role of the agricultural sector in societal and economic transformation and mobilize the citizens for actions to transform the sector. “As media, you should have a holistic examination of the sector’s challenges, the causes of the failing performance of the sector and advocate for putting in place effective policy, strategies, structural measures and programmes required to get the sector on accelerated growth and transformation”

The media are supposed to play a critical role in the policy process. Journalists can flag problems that require attention, weigh policy options that could be considered broader decision-making to include a diversity of voices from citizens and interest groups, inform the public about what is at stake, as well as evaluate the implementation policy.

The agricultural sector is key to the economy. It employs about 80% of the general population and contributes over 68% of the country’s export earnings. Still, the sector has registered poor performance in the last three decades and has not been able to adequately meet the food and nutritional needs of the people of Uganda.

This calls for a lot more efforts to revolutionize the agricultural sector as the nation strives to achieve Vision 2040.

Over 400 youths in Northern Uganda benefit from AfrII’s youth in agribusiness project

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AfrII team (standing) takes youth through importance of savings for financial growth during a financial literacy training in Apac district

 

A total of 455 youths from the districts of Lira, Kole and Apac in Northern Uganda have benefitted from AfrII’s Youth Leadership in Agriculture (YLA) Project that targets youth involvement in agribusiness ventures to increase their incomes. Under their different youth groups, these have been linked to financial access, availed financial literacy and trained on entrepreneurship and business management, among others.
They have been supported to enrich their saving culture, and linked to financial institutions to access services like credit and loans to ably support their agribusinesses.
More youths are to benefit from the different lined up activities under the YLA project.

Youths engaged in practical group work after one of the Financial training sessions

Overall, YLA targets 4,710 youth to increase their incomes through participation in an inclusive Fresh Cassava Root (FCR) supply model as cassava producers/entrepreneurs and employees in cassava production and processing. The Project is supporting two cassava processing factories using the flash drier technology to build an out grower-Nucleus Farm FCR supply model to enable them meet their FCR annual requirement of 7,200 Metric Tons (MT).

The YLA Project is implemented in partnership with Chemonics International.

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