Uganda | Strengthening Access to
Certified Drought-Tolerant Maize
Seed for Climate Resilience
Initiative by the Awamu Team
Counterfeit Seed Solution
In Northern Uganda’s Lira District, climate change posed a significant threat to
smallholder farmers, especially in Agali sub-county, where erratic rainfall and
prolonged droughts severely impacted crop productivity. Maize, despite not being
Uganda’s most iconic crop, played a crucial role in food security, nutrition, and
income generation.
With nearly 86% of Ugandan households cultivating maize, its value chain
sustained over six million people through farming and related jobs. However,
access to certified seed was a major challenge, with only 11% of farmers using
improved varieties and an estimated 60% of maize seed on the market being
counterfeit. This issue was exacerbated by limited public sector research funding,
restrictive patent control by NARO and Makerere University, and an
underdeveloped last-mile distribution system.
To tackle these issues, the Awamu Team, launched an initiative under CALA to
improve access to certified, drought-tolerant maize seed in Agali sub-county. Their
strategy focused on a village agent model that connected farmers to reliable agro-
inputs and empowered local youth as agri-preneurs and intermediaries.
A key aspect of the intervention was addressing the counterfeit seed problem by
establishing trusted distribution points within the community. The team had
recruited and trained 17 youth, surpassing the initial goal of 10, to serve as village
agents. These young people were trained in pesticide handling, safe input use,
financial literacy, and business management. With this training, they set up and
operated input shops, supplied quality seed, and acted as a credible link between
farmers and the formal seed market.