Promotion of oil seed production, value addition and marketing Kitgum District Farmers’ Association (KIDFA) is a member based organization whose mission is ‘to increase farmers’ household incomes in Kitgum district through modern agriculture’. KIDFA provides various services to farmers which include amongst others: training, agricultural extension services, collection and dissemination of market information. By the end of 2010, KIDFA had three thousand seven hundred twenty members (3720) members and the number is steadily increasing. The farmers are well organized with leadership structures from the grassroots (parishes) up to the district level. Agriterra supported KIDFA to develop management tools for the association, which included the following: a human resource and administration manual, finance policy, the constitution, a strategic plan and a business plan. More farmers were mobilised and sensitised, membership grew well.

In spite of the fact that farmers in Kitgum have increased production of oil crops, they continue to fetch low income. This has been attributed to selling their produce individually and the poor quality associated with the produce mainly attributed to lack of proper post harvest handling equipment and techniques; and minimal value addition. 

This project intends to: “Enhance the promotion of oil seed production, value addition and marketing in Kitgum district.” The project shall be implemented by KIDFA for a period of one year effective July 2011 – June 2012. It targets to benefit 2000 farmers, all members of the Association, organised in 80 groups of 25 members each.

The Association hopes that the intervention of this project shall improve on the household income of the farmers through collective action (i.e. bulking in proper storage facilities), value addition by proper post harvest handling techniques, establishing and training marketing groups, avail farmers with market information, packaging and processing and finally foster asses to oilseed markets. This in the long run will lead to improving the Association’s income base through membership contribution and commissions on produce/product sold.

Through a baseline survey conducted in the sub-counties it appeared that one out of the three households sampled grows sunflower for at least one acre and sells individually at a costs ranging from 250 to 300 Uganda Shillings. UOSPA/MUKWANO has an outlet in Lira offers a better price for sale in bulk which KIDFA is very able to provide as a farmers’ organisation in the district. Oil bearing plants offer a range of opportunities for farmer groups through bulking and marketing, creating a sustaining income flow for them and the Association (through charging a warehousing fee for the storage of the produce and sale of the produce at an agreed commission to UOSPA/MUKWANO). 
By organising farmers to produce and sell as a group they could earn more out of the oil seed production. KIDFA has registered 80 farmers groups of 25 farmers and they will be trained in agronomic practices, post harvest handling, quality assurance and collective marketing of agricultural produce. The farmer groups shall also be trained in group dynamics and record keeping.Each group is expected to cultivate 3 acres of the oil seed crop (sunflower and /or sesame). Bulking and marketing shall be carried out by the existing committees established by the group members and through KIDFA it is sold to an oil seed processor at a higher price than when sold individually. 

The overall objectives of this project are:
(i) Promotion of oil seed production, value addition and strengthening KIDFA as a district level producer organization; 
(ii) Marketing farmers’ produce to competitive markets and
(iii)Provision of market information to farmers. 

The specific objectives are: 
i) To increase the Association’s income base by 10% by June 2012;
ii) Increase farmer’s knowledge and skills of 80 farmer groups in production of quality (value added) oil crops;
iii) Provide rental fee for store for 80 producer groups of oil crops (Groundnuts, Simsim, Sunflower and Soya beans) for effective marketing;
iv) Improve farmers’ access to market information through rural information systems;
v) Increase membership by at least 1000 by the end June 2012;
vi) Effective outreach to 80 groups and individual farmers in the 10 Sub Counties in Kitgum and Lamwo districts.

Activities:
1. Mobilisation and sensitisation
2. Training of farmer groups in group dynamics
3. Training in agronomic practice
4. Purchase and planting of sunflower and sesame
5. Training in pest and disease management
6. Trainings on PHH
7. Marketing, store management and record keeping
8. Data collection and processing
9. Bulking produce
10. Monitoring and evaluation

Expected outcome:
i) 80 producer groups and individuals identified to participate in the project
ii) Increased production of targeted oil crops (groundnuts, Simsim and Sunflower). 
iii) Updated database on agricultural production.
iv) Improved quality and quantity of farmers’ produce.
v) Increased access to information on farming and marketing.
vi) Improved household incomes for oil seeds producers in Kitgum.

Promotion of oil seed production, value addition and marketing