Waste Management for Safe Environment and Climate Resilient Livelihoods

Although 70% of Uganda’s population is employed in agriculture, low farm productivity results in their collective contribution of only 24% to the country’s GDP. The situation is further exacerbated by environmental degradation and climate change. As waste management is a crucial challenge contributing to environmental degradation, this project focuses on the opportunities of turning waste into wealth by increasing smallholder farmers’ access to high quality organic fertiliser from biodegradable waste and regenerative farm production practices.

The project provided a valuable proof of concept for converting organic waste into biofertilizer by using solutions offered by the commercial partner. A total of 1,210 bags (30,250 kg) of biofertilizers were sold, generating a net profit of approximately USD 2,500, showcasing the potential of waste-to-value approaches in boosting farm incomes. More than 9,500 farmers were trained and linked to demonstration gardens that served as effective platforms to showcase the comparative benefits of organic fertilizer. Farmers responded positively, and as a result more than 7,000 farmers adopted at least one agroecological or regenerative agricultural technique ranging from organic fertilizer application to integrated pest control and agroforestry resulting in improved yields, better soil health, and reduced dependence on synthetic inputs. Despite this progress, challenges such as limited market access, branding issues including counterfeit fertilizers, and fluctuating consumer confidence emerged. These challenges emphasized the need for certification mechanisms, market development, and a structured distribution model, which would inform the scale-up strategy in the full project phase.