Kampala, Uganda – Farmer Field Schools (FFSs), a participatory learning approach crucial for transferring knowledge and empowering agricultural communities, are facing significant accessibility challenges despite strong national interest.
The model, which enables farmers to collaboratively experiment with and adopt new agricultural practices—thereby building capacity to access relevant technologies—has garnered high-level enthusiasm. A 2023 collaborative learning school in Uganda saw keen interest from community leaders, district and national policymakers, and program implementers.
However, the effective reach of FFSs remains limited. Currently, these participatory learning hubs are confined to select districts and are hampered by a limited number of extension officers. This geographical and institutional constraint is preventing the majority of Ugandan farmers from benefiting from the training.
The sector has a clear opportunity to expand its influence. FFSs can leverage Uganda’s long-standing traditions of farmers’ unions and agricultural associations to strengthen engagement, increase reach, and scale the program nationally. Overcoming the current access bottleneck is critical to unlocking the full potential of this education model for boosting agricultural productivity and improving livelihoods across the country.
