Climate Smart Agriculture

Sustainable farming for environmental and economic resilience

The Environmental Challenge

Uganda's Demographic Pressure: The population of Uganda has grown tremendously from 36.4 million people in 2014 to 45.9 million people in 2024. This population growth comes with increased demand for food and also increased demand for cooking energy.

Energy Crisis: Uganda predominantly uses charcoal and firewood for cooking. The survey conducted by Global Forest Watch in 2019/2020 indicates that the number of Ugandans using charcoal increased to 57% from 30% in 2016/17.

Forest Degradation: In the late 1980s, about 75,000 square kilometers (31.7 percent) out of 236,040 square kilometers of total land in the country consisted of forest and woodland. Today (2022), forests and woodlands cover only make up about 15.2 percent of Uganda's land surface.

200,000

Hectares of forest lost annually (since 2017)

15.2%

Forest coverage remaining (2022)

57%

Ugandans using charcoal (2020)

Alternative Green Fuels from Cassava

Addressing the energy crisis with sustainable cassava-based solutions

Cassava Ethanol

Production Method: Processed by distilling fermented cassava starch into ethanol

  • Clean cooking fuel alternative
  • Reduces charcoal demand
  • Renewable energy source
  • Lower emissions than firewood

Cassava Briquettes

Production Method: Made through pyrolysis of cassava peels and fibrous residue

  • Value addition from waste
  • Efficient burning characteristics
  • Reduces deforestation pressure
  • Creates additional revenue streams

Climate Smart Agronomy Practices

Supporting farmers to adopt sustainable and resilient farming practices

1

Drought Tolerant Varieties

Recommended Varieties: Nase 14, Narocass 1, and Narocass 19

  • Developed at NARO (National Agricultural Research Organisation)
  • Resistant to Cassava Mosaic and Brown Streak diseases
  • No need for fumigation
  • Highly adaptive to climatic variations
  • Yield: ~20MT per acre
2

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

Approach: Holistic pest and disease control

  • Ensure farmers access resistant varieties
  • Use clean and certified seeds
  • Apply environmentally friendly pesticides
  • Minimize chemical inputs
  • Protect biodiversity and human health
3

Soil Management & Conservation

Techniques: Preserve soil fertility and health

  • Crop rotation practices
  • Intercropping cassava with legumes
  • Maximum tillage of three years
  • Mulching to retain moisture
  • Reduce soil fatigue and enhance fertility
4

Weather-Based Decision Making

Approach: Use science to guide farming decisions

  • Collaboration with meteorologists
  • Access to weather forecasts
  • Scientific warning systems
  • Risk mitigation strategies
  • Informed planting and harvesting decisions
5

Affordable Irrigation Methods

Solutions: Sustainable water management

  • Drip irrigation systems
  • Flood irrigation near water sources
  • Reduces dependency on rainfall
  • Ensures production during dry spells
  • Improves food security year-round

Yield Impact of Climate Smart Agriculture

Traditional Farming

3-5

MT per acre

Climate Smart

20+

MT per acre

Climate Smart Agriculture practices enable farmers to achieve yields of 20 MT or above per acre, representing a 4-5x improvement over traditional farming methods.

Multi-Benefit Impact

Environmental

  • Reduces deforestation pressure
  • Conserves biodiversity
  • Improves soil health
  • Lowers carbon emissions

Social

  • Enhanced food security
  • Improved nutrition
  • Community resilience
  • Knowledge sharing

Economic

  • Higher incomes for farmers
  • Increased productivity
  • Market opportunities
  • Job creation

Climate Resilience

  • Drought resistance
  • Pest tolerance
  • Disease resistance
  • Adaptation capacity