In Uganda, a first capacity development seminar on Agricultural Risk Management was successfully held on 1-2 July, 2015, in Kampala. However, it was noted that only few representatives from farmers’ associations were able to join, which is why a follow-up training was needed to bring the knowledge closer to the farmers.
Objectives and programme of the workshop
The workshop had two main objectives, namely enhancing knowledge of farmers on agricultural risk and providing technical skills to analyze and manage risks, and collecting information on the risk exposure of farmers to improve on the design of current risk management practices in Uganda.
It aimed at providing participants with skills and knowledge to :
- Analyze and understand their risk exposure
- Understand the influence of risk on their business and the consequences (for example, for accessing agricultural credit)
- Understand the need for information and know-how on where to get relevant information
- Understand the different ARM tools available and select the most suitable instruments aimed at reducing, transferring, and coping with risks.
The training took place in Mbale, in Eastern Uganda, and brought together close to 50 representatives of farmers’ organizations, which were joined by local extension services staff.
Presentations on topics related to the management of agricultural risks were alternated with group work to enable participants to discuss and apply the concepts to their daily work. The two day workshop was divided into six sessions, aimed at providing an overview of the core issues in agricultural risk management:
- Introduction
- Risks in smallholder farming
- Methods and tools for risk assessment
- Access to finance
- Information systems for agricultural risk management
- Risk management instruments
Main outcomes
The training was held successfully and gathered a large group of farmers’ organizations representatives, demonstrating a clear interest for agricultural risk management from the farmers’ side. Moreover, PARM was able to meet with several key government officials and institutions working in the field.
Next steps
Capacity development activities will continue, with the creation of material for training of farmers and farmers’ associations, which could then be used at the local level. Feedback from the farmers on the most pressing risks they face will be used to define the next steps in the PARM process, in particular the focus area for the feasibility study of tools for agricultural risk management.
