Farmer Field and Business School

FFBS: Driving Food Security and Nutrition in Kamuli

The Farmer Field and Business School (FFBS) initiative is playing a pivotal role in helping CASCADE achieve its overarching goal of improving food security and reducing malnutrition across Uganda. With a focus on empowering women of reproductive age and children under five years, FFBS is directly contributing to the fight against hunger and malnutrition, a challenge that many rural communities face daily. This initiative, particularly focused on small-scale women farmers, is fostering sustainable agricultural practices and providing essential skills to women, allowing them to take control of their health and nutritional needs while building stronger, more resilient communities

CASCADE’s goal is ambitious: to improve food security and reduce malnutrition among 1 million women of reproductive age and children under five years. Through the FFBS approach, CASCADE is making significant strides in achieving this vision by ensuring that families especially in rural areas, have access to vital resources, training, and opportunities to increase agricultural productivity and improve nutrition.

By teaching school going children how to establish and manage school gardens through the FFBS model, the initiative is not only increasing access to nutritious foods but also creating pathways for economic independence. The gardens, established in five schools in Kamuli District, will provide fresh, locally grown green leafy vegetables, legumes, and other crops like amaranth, collards, spider weed, nakati, spinach, carrots, and sweet potatoes. These crops, rich in vitamins and minerals, help combat malnutrition while offering a source of income through market sales, further improving the financial stability of these families.

The approach goes beyond just teaching farming skills. The FFBS program has a strong gender-transformative focus, meaning it actively works to dismantle traditional gender roles that often limit women’s involvement in agriculture. It gives rural communities especially women a platform to engage in market-based farming, empowering them to make decisions, access new markets, and ultimately achieve greater food security for their families.

The training of 32 teachers from schools across Kamuli District was a key starting point. Led by agricultural experts, including Ms. Harriet Nabirye, a professor from Busitema University, these educators are now equipped to teach students about nutrition, sustainable farming, and business practices. As part of this, students have learned to grow and harvest nutrient-dense crops, which directly contributes to better health outcomes. By learning how to cultivate these nutritious plants, both students and teachers will not only improve the food supply in their schools but also take valuable knowledge home to their families, thus widening the program’s impact.

The emphasis on nutrition-sensitive agriculture is also central to the FFBS approach. By incorporating nutritional education alongside agricultural training, the program ensures that farmers, particularly women, are better equipped to make informed choices about the food they grow and consume. This holistic approach addresses the root causes of malnutrition and empowers women with the knowledge to make healthier food choices for their families.

The program’s impact is multifaceted. Beyond improving food security, FFBS will contribute to the overall economic development of rural areas. As the children gain new skills in farming and business, they become key drivers of change within their communities. The success of these gardens in local schools will also demonstrate how small-scale farming can lead to larger economic benefits, creating a ripple effect that impacts both food security and community development.