Serere women reap big from block farming

SERERE, December 2, 2025 2025 — In Serere district, women who have embraced block farming say the approach has transformed their wellbeing, with many saying they now have money in their pockets.

According to agricultural economists, block farming is a collective agricultural model where smallholder farmers cultivate individual plots within one larger area to achieve economies of scale. A company or organisation manages the block, providing inputs, technology, training, and securing markets for the farmers’ produce. The model is designed to increase efficiency, improve productivity, and enhance market access for small-scale farmers who would otherwise struggle to achieve these benefits on their own.

Joyce Mary Ariokot, Chairperson of Omunyolo Women’s Group, says participating families now have enough food for consumption, with a surplus to sell, thus earning money.

“Our families now have enough nutritious food, although we sell the surplus as a group to earn some income,” Ariokot says.

With better access to nutritious food and a steady income, many women say their households now enjoy improved health and financial stability. “I am proud to provide for my children,” adds Sarah Adeke, a member of Aima Women’s Group.

The women Women and Girls Rights Advocacy Uganda [WAGRAU] for equipping them with skills and resources that have enabled them to break free from poverty. WAGRAU, a non-profit organisation, has supported hundreds of rural women in Serere district, especially through through block farming.

For years, many of these women relied on subsistence farming, struggling to make ends meet. But block farming has changed the game, enabling them to own assets such as livestock and land. This agricultural model clusters smallholder farmers together to grow selected crops, making bulking and marketing easier.

Solome Aigi, a mother of five, says they grow simsim, groundnuts and millet. Last season, they harvested 20 bags of groundnuts from five acres. “We are waiting for the prices to rise before selling,” Aigi explains.

Challenges

Despite challenges such as livestock diseases and limited land rights, the women of Serere District continue pushing to acquire land. “We are determined to own land,” Aigi says.

Investing in livestock

The women are investing their earnings in livestock, securing their financial futures. “I now own three sheep,” says Adeke, a mother of six. “WAGRAU taught us how to care for them, and it has changed our lives.”

Lillian Ayodo, a widow, used her first pig to expand crop production. “I hired two acres of land, grew simsim and millet, and sold six piglets for Shs 60,000 each.” She plans to buy cows and land soon.

The women also save and lend money among themselves, strengthening their financial stability. “We meet weekly, contributing Shs 1,000 or 2,000,” says one of the block farmers.

WAGRAU’s official speaks out

WAGRAU supports the farmers by hiring gardens, ploughing land, buying seeds and providing market access. “We empower women to make informed investment decisions,” says Deborah Akello, the Executive Director of the non-profit organisation.

She explains that the women harvest and store crops like millet and groundnuts, selling them when prices peak. However, because simsim loses weight if stored too long, they sell it quickly.

According to Akello, the approach challenges traditional norms that often prevent women from benefiting fully from their hard work. “By controlling the timing of their sales, women can maximise profits and invest in their futures,” she adds.

Through block farming, these women are rewriting their futures — one harvest at a time.

https://thecooperator.news/floods-cause-havoc-in-serere-destroying-crops-and-homes/

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