Coffee farmers’ SACCO, Agritera equip farmer organisations with planning and management skills
KAPCHORWA, September 27, 2026 — Leaders of farmer organisations in Kaserem Subcounty, Kapchorwa district, have been equipped with leadership, planning and financial management skills through a capacity-building initiative implemented by Agritera under the FORT project.
The three-day training, organised recently by Wagagai Coffee Farmers’ SACCO in partnership with Agritera, brought together leaders from four farmer groups in Kaserem Subcounty for practical sessions aimed at strengthening their leadership and organisational development skills.
The training was held in Weree Village, Weree Parish, Kaserem Subcounty, and participants took part in activities designed to help them reflect on their experiences, understand the importance of teamwork, identify challenges facing their organisations and develop shared visions for the future.
The training was part of the FORT Project’s wider target of strengthening 60 producer cooperatives, 60 SACCOs and 180 farmer organisations.
Agritera is implementing the five-year project in the Elgon region, initially covering Bulambuli, Mbale, Bududa and Kapchorwa districts. Kween and Sironko districts are expected to be incorporated into the project, bringing the number of districts covered to six.
The training was facilitated by Shaid Mwanga, Chairman of Wagagai Coffee Farmers’ SACCO, and Shamim Chemonges, the SACCO’s Credit Officer.
Mwanga said capacity building was important because farmer organisation leaders needed the knowledge and skills to effectively guide their members.
“A vision gives a group direction, but the vision can only become a reality when members are willing to make the necessary effort,” Mwanga said.
He encouraged the leaders to share the knowledge acquired with members of their respective groups.
“As leaders, you have a responsibility to guide your members. What you have learned here should not remain with you; go back and share it with the other members of your groups,” he told participants.
Mwanga also encouraged members to embrace saving and responsible borrowing, saying financial discipline was important for the growth of farmer organisations and SACCOs.
Developing a shared vision
The Vision Journey in Groups was one of the central activities during the training.
Participants worked together to reflect on the history of their groups, assess their current situation and identify where they wanted their organisations to be in the future.
The exercise was intended to help farmer leaders develop a common understanding of their aspirations and identify practical steps towards achieving them.
The Effort Tool complemented the Vision Journey by helping participants examine what would be required to turn their visions into reality.
They discussed the commitment, resources, teamwork and actions necessary to achieve the goals identified during the exercise.
Another activity, the Happy Family Tree, encouraged participants to reflect on relationships, values and experiences that contribute to unity and cooperation.
Through the exercise, participants explored the importance of working together and supporting one another within their organisations.
Chemonges emphasised the importance of financial management in building strong farmer organisations.
“For a group to grow, members need to understand the importance of saving, proper record keeping and responsible use of credit,” Chemonges said.
She encouraged leaders to promote transparency and accountability in the management of group finances.
“Leadership is not only about having a position. It is also about being accountable to the members and ensuring that the resources of the group are used responsibly,” she said.
Chemonges urged the leaders to apply the knowledge gained during the training and share it with other members.
Participants welcome training
The training also provided participants with an opportunity to exchange experiences and discuss challenges affecting their groups.
Issues discussed included member participation, savings, access to credit, leadership, teamwork and the sustainability of farmer organisations.
Chebet Azida, group leader at Pure Savings and Credit Women Group, said the training had provided her with knowledge that would help her guide members more effectively.
She said the Happy Family Tree activity helped participants understand the importance of unity and good relationships within groups.
Chebet also said the Vision Journey exercise encouraged leaders to think about where their organisations wanted to go and how members could work together to achieve their goals.
Sulaiman Mwanga, group leader at Kapchebesa Savings Group, said the training had helped him understand the importance of planning and collective effort.
He said the Vision Journey enabled participants to reflect on their past achievements, assess their current position and consider their future aspirations.
Mwanga said he would share the knowledge acquired with members of Kapchebesa Savings Group.
The participants thanked Agritera and Wagagai Coffee Farmers’ SACCO for organising the training and providing an opportunity to learn through practical activities.
They said the participatory approach allowed them to share experiences, ask questions and learn from other farmer leaders.
The capacity-building activities are part of efforts to strengthen farmer organisations across the Elgon region by equipping their leaders with practical skills to improve management and sustainability.
Strong farmer organisations can provide platforms for farmers to mobilise savings, access credit, share knowledge and pursue common economic interests.
The training therefore focused on both individual leadership and strengthening organisations to work towards shared objectives.
The facilitators encouraged the leaders to put the lessons into practice and continue working with their members to build stronger and better-organised farmer groups.
The three-day training ended on Friday, with participants expressing appreciation for the knowledge and practical skills acquired.
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