Green Grove Collective set to reduce poverty in Busoga through Improved Agriculture

Jinja, Uganda : A new player in Uganda’s agricultural landscape, Green Grove Collective,  is set to reduce poverty level in Busoga region by supporting agricultural practices in the region.

Uganda’s agricultural potential is considered to be among the best in Africa, with low temperature variability, fertile soils, and two rainy seasons over much of the country – leading to multiple crop harvests per year.  According to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization, Uganda’s fertile agricultural land has the potential to feed 200 million people.  Eighty percent of Uganda’s land is arable but only 35% is being cultivated.  In FY 2022/23, agriculture accounted for about 24% of GDP, and 35% of export earnings.  The UBOS estimates that about 68% of Uganda’s working population is employed in agriculture.

Uganda’s commercial farming, according to the United States International Trade Administration is impeded by farmers’ limited use of fertilizer and quality seeds, and a lack of irrigation infrastructure. This is said to be rendering production vulnerable to climatic extremes and pest infestations.

Munyole Andrew says that Uganda’s agricultural growth is also impaired by the lack of quality packaging capabilities, insufficient storage facilities, poor post-harvest handling practices, shortage of agricultural credit, high freight costs, the lack of all-weather feeder roads in rural areas, a complicated and inefficient land tenure system, and limited knowledge of modern production practices.  Ugandan producers often find it difficult to meet sanitary and phytosanitary standards required to export goods to Europe and the United States.

Green Grove Collective works to improve farm planning in the rural areas of Uganda to increase farm productivity while ensuring sustainability with a focus on delivering extension services through advisory farmer trainings  to both large scale and small scale farmers, youths encouragement and women. Munyole revealed that “the company use digital projectors to reach the communities using the relocation languages”.

Waiswa Nicholas told the Scribe that Green Grove Collective’s digital extension services offer farmers real-time updates on weather patterns, crop management tips, and market prices.

In a bid to modernize urban food production, the company is championing urban farming through vertical gardens and community-based initiatives like city farms. They also provide compound designing services to create strategic farm layouts that enhance productivity and resource use.

Strategically planning to expand its footprint, Green Grove Collective is set to open offices in Buikwe and Jinja districts. According to the UNICEF multidimensional poverty profile, the East Rural, where Buikwe and Jinja are located, are reported to be at 67% poor. This is why Green Groove has decided to open operations in the region to offer practical interventions aimed at improved household livelihoods.

Green Grove Collective Company Limited was founded by Munyole Andrew and Waiswa Nicholas. The company’s comprehensive approach includes services such as farm planning, farm management, environmental stewardship, and digital extension, all tailored to meet the diverse needs of the agricultural community. Their goal is to optimize yields, reduce costs, and promote long term farm viability, aligning with national aspirations for a sustainable agricultural future.