NAAC Champions precision farming with gender-responsive approach
In Uganda, women contribute up to 70 percent of agricultural production yet own only 7 percent of land resources, according to the 2022 Uganda Bureau of Statistics [UBOS] report
KAMPALA, May 3, 2025 – The National Alliance for Agricultural Cooperatives in Uganda (NAAC) is championing the adoption of precision farming among local farmers through a gender-responsive approach.
Under the Digitally Enabled Resilience and Nutritional Policy Innovation Project [DERPIn], NAAC is calling on farmers to embrace new technologies that can boost productivity, enhance household incomes, and combat food insecurity within communities.
Funded by the German government, the DERPIn aims to tackle various challenges, including nutrition deficiencies affecting mothers and children in rural areas, particularly across Sub-Saharan Africa.
The initiative addresses socially constructed roles, behaviours, and expectations that influence access to agricultural resources. It also focuses on themes of inclusion, justice, equity, equality, and reality, aiming to transform deep-rooted inequalities in rural African communities.
In Uganda, women contribute up to 70 percent of agricultural production yet own only 7 percent of land resources, according to the 2022 Uganda Bureau of Statistics [UBOS] report. Additionally, just 25 percent of women have access to agricultural extension services, significantly impacting their productivity. Female representation in sector leadership stands at only 20 percent, limiting their influence in decision-making processes.
NAAC Board Chairperson, Ayub Wasike, said the DERPIn project is timely, as it aligns with the alliance’s broader goal of increasing productivity and addressing the numerous challenges faced by large-scale commercial farmers.
“We urge farmers to embrace this project, which relies on high-precision technologies, including accurate weather prediction systems,” Wasike said.
He encouraged farmers to incorporate data into their production processes, invest in research, and explore advanced technologies to enhance their agricultural activities.
“Today, we must adopt new technologies to reap better rewards from our work. It’s time we start trusting in technology,” he added.
Dr Richard Miiro, Director of the Uganda Forum for Agricultural Extension Services, underscored the importance of farmers making better use of extension services to overcome current challenges.
“Let’s use available platforms to encourage farmers to embrace extension services and access timely advisories and knowledge that can help them improve their harvests,” said Miiro.
He further noted that gender integration in agriculture not only enhances food security and growth but also builds community resilience to climate change and other shocks, while helping to reduce poverty and inequality in rural areas.
An estimated 10.3 million people in Uganda face food insecurity, particularly in semi-arid areas such as Karamoja, the Teso sub-region, and across the cattle corridor. Women, girls, and children remain the most vulnerable, especially to nutritional deficiencies.
The DERPIn project has been piloted in five African countries: Uganda, Kenya, Malawi, Senegal, and Zambia.
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