Kapchorwa cooperatives mark CoopsDay with seed distribution and farmer training
The Day ended on a high note with a spirited football match between Wagagai Coffee Farmers SACCO and Kaserem Area Cooperative Marketing Enterprise
KAPCHORWA, July 7, 2025 — Wagagai Coffee Farmers SACCO and Kaserem Area Cooperative Marketing Enterprise jointly marked the belated celebration of International Day of Cooperatives [CoopsDay] on Sunday, with a vibrant event that included the distribution of crop and vegetable seeds, agronomic training, and financial literacy sessions.
Held under the theme “Cooperatives Build a Better Future”, the celebrations combined educational sessions, agricultural support initiatives, and community-building activities such as a football match. The event, hosted at Kapsirikwo Playground in Kaptono Parish, Kaserem Subcounty in Kapchorwa district, attracted farmers, cooperators, and youth from surrounding communities and highlighted the vital role cooperatives play in rural development, especially in coffee-growing regions like Kaserem.
Training in agronomy and sustainable farming
The day began with practical training in agronomy led by Salmin Chemonges, a Credit Officer at Wagagai Coffee Farmers SACCO and Field Technician with Solidaridad Uganda. Farmers received hands-on guidance in soil fertility management, coffee pruning, disease control, and climate-smart agriculture.
Live demonstrations on composting, mulching, and pest monitoring were conducted, with a strong focus on transitioning from traditional practices to more sustainable, data-driven methods.
“Modern farming begins with knowledge. With the right skills, even a small coffee garden can transform a family’s livelihood. That’s what we aimed to instil today,” Chemonges said.
Participants responded enthusiastically, with many noting the interactive nature of the training made it easier to grasp and apply the techniques. Several farmers also used the opportunity to seek specific advice on issues affecting their farms.
Financial literacy and cooperative investment
The training extended beyond agronomy to cover financial literacy. Topics included savings culture, basic budgeting, loan management, and collective investment through cooperatives.
“We often talk about increasing yields, but we must also focus on managing the income from those yields,” said Shaid Mwanga, General Secretary of Wagagai Coffee Farmers SACCO. “This training is about helping farmers think beyond the harvest.”
Farmers were encouraged to open savings accounts with the SACCO and explore joint investments in agricultural inputs and post-harvest infrastructure.
Promoting food security with seed distribution
In addition to its focus on coffee, the event tackled food security and nutrition. The cooperatives distributed starter packs of vegetable seeds, including carrots, eggplants, spinach, sukuma wiki, pumpkins, and dodo, as well as coffee and tree seedlings.
“This is more than just planting vegetables. It’s about fighting hunger, improving family diets, and creating an extra source of income,” said Doreen Yapsiwa, a member of Wagagai Coffee Farmers SACCO. “When coffee is not in season, vegetables can sustain a household.”
Cooperative field staff committed to conducting follow-up visits to ensure proper planting and seedling survival.
Football match adds energy to the Day
The Day ended on a high note with a spirited football match between Wagagai Coffee Farmers SACCO and Kaserem Area Cooperative Marketing Enterprise. The match, which drew hundreds of football fans, ended in a 2–2 draw, with both teams showcasing talent and sportsmanship. The lively crowd cheered with trumpets, drumming, and dancing.
“Development isn’t only about money and crops, it’s also about mental and physical well-being,” said Rafa Mwanga, a member of Kaserem Area Cooperative Marketing Enterprise.
A prize-giving ceremony followed the match, with standout participants from the training and football match receiving vegetable seedlings, coffee, and other tree seedlings as rewards.
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