| AtM competition awards handed out by ADP |
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Written by M/s Alien Huizing
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Monday 29th of March 2010
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FIT Uganda Ltd manages and coordinates an Access to Markets (AtM) project implemented by 9 partner organizations and funded by the Dutch development organization Cordaid. The objective of the project is to commercialize farmers so that they become competitive and establish sustainable rewarding market linkages.
In order to motivate farming communities to professionalize their operations in Farming as a Business and to develop sustainable market linkages, FIT together with its partners, organised a Business Growth & Market Linkage Catalyst Award among the participating farmer groups of the project. The competition took place for about 9 months.
The main criteria for this competition are the following:
1. Group structure
2. The ability of the farmer to maintain good records of his or her business
3. Collective marketing
4.Creation of business linkages for the group
5. Ability of the group to mentor each other into better farming and business practice.
On Tuesday 23rd of March ADP (Agriculture Development Programme) in Kyenjojo, one of FIT’s partners in the AtM Project organised a market auction/field day during which the awards were handed out to the winning farmer groups. According to ADP the competition has boosted the skills of the farmers in records keeping and collective marketing.
The first group received a petrol engine maize sheller, the second group a weighing sale for up to 200 kilograms, the third group a weighing scale for up to 100 kilograms and the fourth group was awarded 10 dozens of plastic egg trays.
During the day the maize value addition process for Kyenjojo Farmers Marketing Association (KYEFAMA) was also launched which will enable them to add value through milling and packaging thus increasing competitiveness in the market. This was also the theme of the day: “value addition for increased incomes; the way forward”. KYEFAMA is made up of 14 farmer groups. Six of which participate in the FIT AtM project. FIT Uganda trained the KYEFAMA committee in writing a business plan for their enterprise.
Another activity of the festival was an exhibition of produce by farmers. The farmers displayed their crops and poultry and explained how they grow and sell their produce.
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Award of 1st Prize
Value Addition at Kyefama
4th prize award
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Farmer displays 2nd prize
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Farmers dance during festival
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Exhibition of local produce
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