THE AGRICULTURE & RURAL TRANSFORMATION (ART) PROGRAMME:

The main objective is to increase the productivity of both farm labour and land in order to enhance agricultural production. This will be, done through intensification methods for better and efficient use of scarce arable land. Some of these methods will include, organic farming, value addition to traditional crops, modern & better farming technologies, water harvesting & management with small scale irrigation schemes; methods and practices, new crops, introduction of sustainable & affordable farm energy sources; availing markets to farmers for their produce, and new storage methods;  with quality livestock husbandry involving animal traction, accompanied by agro-forestry and proper care for the environment. Provision of improved rural infrastructure and conditions must be an important component. The expected outcome is sustainability of food security and high levels of income generation and modernized living conditions in rural communities for sustainable transformational development in rural Teso.

Current Projects:

General Programme activities initially, cover 3 communities involving 480 families and a total population of 2,813. Projects include, first, raising tree nurseries and tree planting for the rescue of severely degraded environment. Secondly, promotion of the use of improved and high yielding seeds & planting materials and employment of modern methods of farming in the cultivation of local crops, for both food security and income generation. Thirdly, (still in plan only) introduction of new technologies to add value to some of the local food crops that are currently serving both purposes of food security and cash (sold in their raw state). The starting point is new Technology for processing Cassava (Tapioca) a widely grown crop, with Intercessors for Uganda.

There is also still at a planning stage, a project being developed, involving Action Research for the introduction of intensification and integrated approach for Agricultural & Rural Transformation in Teso.