Uganda is the leading agricultural country in the region. More than 70% of the population is involved in farming. Agriculture is most important for Uganda to move forward in economic security. Still, the role of women in Uganda cannot be underestimated. They engage and contribute significantly to the agriculture sector. But they encounter several barriers that limit their chance to fully engage. They need to be economically empowered. Female are significant and involves in this agricultural environment. These are practically utilized in almost all operations in farming. Such as planting seeds as well as reaping crops. Nonetheless, the women in Uganda have the major challenges.

Some of the difficulties include inadequate access to land. Culture minimizes the chances that women decide on their own. Thus, they are not reaching their full potential, which affects the agriculture sector.

This case study is on exploring the prospects of women farmers in Uganda. It discusses the difficulties they experience. And looks into as to how eliminating the barriers can help them. Uganda also has the ability to grow the entire agricultural value chain. At the same time empower the women in agriculture within the country.

Ugandan women farmers face several major barriers to agricultural participation, as outlined below. These challenges stem from basic input goods, including land, credit, and agricultural inputs. As the AgriFoSe2030 Report, women in Uganda are still culturally discouraged from owning land. In summary, women are not legally banned from owning land in Uganda. Cultural practices and weak enforcement of laws limit their land ownership and control. Which is an essential factor in farming.

Due to their lack of property rights, particularly owning land, women are locked out of the formal credit markets. Which are important for accessing credit needed to purchase seeds, tools, or any other input. This limited nature of finance hampers women’s ability to invest in their farms.

Other factors in women’s low participation in agriculture are cultural and social restraints. Existing female low-paying labor-intensive tasks are common. Such division of labor only leads to Gender discrimination. Which also barriers women’s career mobility.

Such problems are also increased by economic challenges. For the lack of markets, they are unable to sell their produce at reasonable prices. As the markets are almost closed to them. We can also see lacking access to modern agricultural products.

These impacts affect not only women but also the agriculture sector in Uganda. Resulting in inefficiency and low yields.

Various strategies have been applied to overcome the problem. By exercising women’s rights and allowing them to access resources in Uganda. There are provisions for empowerment programs for women farmers. These programs offer trainings, financial services as well as access to modern inputs. Such as improved agricultural producet. Which in return makes women produce more food and lift them up from a lower standard of living.

The Ugandan government, together with NGOs, has also supported gender equity in farming. Some of these include the preferential rights for women to access land and credit facilities. As well as the support from NGOs through the provision of relevant training. All these are important in developing effective and pro-female agricultural value chains.

The positive experiences of women from these initiatives show women can run farming.  For instance, women in Uganda who are involved in the rice value chain have embraced the formation of cooperatives that enable them to access markets and credit facilities. Their aim is to improve their income and livelihoods.

Therefore, the involvement of women in agriculture was considered the best way forward to improve the sector’s productivity. These changes have boosted most initiatives. Which seek to empower women through access to markets, technology, and information. Which will be less inconvenience, and enhanced productivity in future. In addition, women are given opportunities to assume leadership in the supply chain.

We all must work together to increase the capacities of women farmers in Uganda. Some of the measures used have included the following.

Partnerships and Collaborations:

The Ugandan government engaged financial Institutions to provide credit to women farmers. So that they could borrow money and invest it in their farms. Non-governmental organizations worked hand in hand with the communities to provide training. Whcih are related on effective farming practices and entrepreneurship skills.

Example: The FAO’s engagement with local governments in Uganda’s cattle corridor developed pro-EVC agri-food value chains. Through these partnerships, women were able to access financial products. Appropriate agricultural inputs are available that were beyond their reach in past.

Training and Capacity Building:

Female farmers were empowered on issues related to farming. Such as the use of advanced farming techniques, environmentally friendly farming practices. Awareness creation programs were also created. Whereby women were taken through financial literacy and leadership training. Enabling them to make decisions within their households and societies.

Example: Youth Forward Initiative empowered young women in Uganda. That were involved in Agriculture with training in new methods of practice. Thus boosting their production and earnings. This initiative also provided the women with training especially in the area of mentorship. In order to enable them to undertake leadership positions within the agricultural sector. 

Technology Adoption:

Some of the measures that were put in place included creating consciousness among the female farmers. By making them aware of new farming techniques, including improved seeds, fertilizers, and irrigation systems. Information services and mobile platforms were introduced to give women real-time market information and farming advice. Which helped them to make informed decisions.

Example: The women involved in the rice value chain in Uganda were empowered by establishing that they can use improved seeds and appropriate means of irrigation. This use of technology resulted in quantitative transformation in yields. Thereby improving the ability of women to negotiate better prices in the market.

Inclusive Policy Development:

The government changed its policies on land ownership. Women in Uganda now have the legal right to claim land. Specifically to inherit and invest in lands. Which are important for getting loans from the agricultural industry. The Government also establishes women’s representation in the local agricultural councils. Also, in the strategic decision-making bodies. That helped them have a voice in policy-making.

Example: In some districts in Uganda, women advocacy groups petitioned for a change in land inheritance laws. This particular legal change allowed more women to get credit and give back to their farming businesses. This results in increased production levels and financial status for women.

These solutions have helped improve the lives of women farmers in Uganda. For example, through the Youth Forward Initiative, the productivity rates of women involved in agriculture increased by 30%. Thus, they enjoyed better incomes and improved standards of living. Moreover, gender-responsive value chains were constructed. Women gained market access by 40% with a rise in their negotiation power

The use of better seeds when implementing modern farming methods made it possible for the women handling rice to double their yields. Furthermore, those interventions have helped to improve the supply chain of Ugandan agriculture. By removing the existing constraints hampering productivity in the agriculture sector.

These outcomes acted as tools of empowment of women. It also contributed to the economic improvement of Uganda. This shows the importance of women in improving the agricultural sector.

Despite all the criticisms on why women in Uganda’s agricultural sector should be empowered, it is clear that it is a matter of equity and development. This will enable Uganda to tackle the challenges with women farmers. Appropriate assistance and training for women farmers enable the country to utilize its agricultural sector. The success stories in this case study also show that if enough support is given, women can take the leadership of transforming Ugandan agriculture and growth of the economy. 

In the future more resources must be given to improve women status in agriculture. Which can be through program and policies. This involves; expansion of access to land, credit and technology among other factors, and growth of women’s representation in decision making. In this way Uganda will be able to guarantee that agricultural sector remains active, productive and for the benefit of women and all Ugandans.