A Farmer’s Path to Greater Productivity and Stability: Namulondo’s Story
Namulondo is a mother of eight and a smallholder farmer in Uganda. She works hard every day to build a more stable and secure future for her family. Like many smallholder farmers, she has long relied on agriculture to provide for her household. But for years, limited knowledge, low yields, and financial constraints made it difficult to meet even basic needs. Her children frequently missed school due to unpaid fees, and inconsistent income placed a strain on her family.
Before joining her local savings group, named “Together We Can,” Namulondo farmed three acres of maize using traditional methods, harvesting only five 100kg bags per season. Despite her effort, production remained low and unpredictable. Her coffee trees were underperforming, and she had limited options to improve her situation.
Her trajectory began to shift, though, when she joined the group and started receiving training through a Farmer Support Agent (FSA). Through these sessions, she built skills in farm productivity and yield improvement, financial literacy, business management, and household planning, including gender equality. These trainings provided both practical tools and a new framework for decision-making on her farm and within her household.
With support from her FSA, Namulondo adopted improved agricultural practices, including the use of treated seeds and better fertilizer applications. She made a strategic decision to reduce her maize plot from three acres to 1.5 acres, focusing on productivity rather than scale. This shift led to a significant increase in output: She now harvests 24 bags of maize per season. Her farm has since been recognized as a model site for other farmers.
At the same time, Namulondo diversified her livelihood. By integrating coffee and banana production and raising 46 chickens, she has created multiple sources of income while also improving her soil’s health and farm’s resilience.
Financial training has also strengthened her ability to plan and invest. She increased her weekly savings from 2,000 to 10,000 shillings, enabling her to access loans and reinvest in her farm and small enterprises. These changes have translated into more consistent income and greater financial stability.
Within her household, the impact is equally significant. Through gender equality training, Namulondo and her husband now make financial decisions together, improving cooperation and long-term planning. Her children are able to attend school consistently, and the family has invested in better housing and more reliable access to food and healthcare.
Namulondo continues to adapt and improve her farming practices. When pests affected her maize, she used AgFinance’s AI chatbot that provides customized farming advice alongside support from her FSA to identify and respond to the issue. While challenges such as input costs and climate risks still exist, she is much better equipped to manage them.
Namulondo’s work is helping to improve her current situation, but it is also creating new opportunities for her children and building a future with greater stability and choice. Through strengthened knowledge, diversified income, and improved financial management, she is moving beyond subsistence and working toward long-term resilience.
Her experience demonstrates how access to training, mentorship, and financial tools can enable farmers to make informed decisions, increase productivity, and build more secure livelihoods.