Farmers tour the Rwenjeru banana plantation during the launch of the SOMA digital platform
A new digital platform, innovated by the dfcu Foundation, has been launched to provide farmers with timely climate change information.
Kate Kiiza, the Executive Director of dfcu Bank, says that the SOMA digital platform is designed to empower farmers by providing real-time, localised, and actionable climate-related information. She notes that this will improve resilience and decision-making in farming practices.
During the launch of dfcu Foundation at the Rwenjeru Agro Tourism Demonstration and Training Farm in Mbarara City on Thursday, Kiiza stated that the foundation aims to reach 100,000 farmers through its digital platform by 2030. She said that 60% of the numbers are women and 30% are youth.
The Foundation and the platform were launched under the theme “Transforming lives and Agro businesses in Uganda”.
Bright Rwamirama, the Minister of Animal Husbandry, said the launch of the foundation and platform presents an opportunity for the government to address the information gap.
“The government provides extension services, disease and pest control, infrastructure policy frameworks that guide private partners and with this collaboration, we shall reach the target,” Rwamirama said.
He further explained that many farmers have faced climate change challenges due to a lack of information, limited access to finances, markets, and skills the situation that has hindered the commercialization of agriculture.
Rwamirama advised farmers to start practicing sub-soiling, a soil management technique aimed at breaking up compacted layers of soil to enhance water infiltration, root growth, and overall soil health.
He said that subsoiling will address problems related to poor drainage and increased crop yields caused by compacted soil.
Martin Kananura, the director of Rwenjeru Farm, said that the platform has helped him and other farmers in the area learn how to monitor soil health and keep records, among other things.
Musiime Sam, the chairperson of Rushere Farmers’ Cooperative, said that through the platform, the extension workers from dfcu have assisted them in growing different types of grass, such as hay for the cattle, which has increased milk productivity.
