Farm Africa has launched a Village-Based Advisor (VBA) programme in northeastern Uganda in partnership with FIPS Africa. The initiative marks an important step in FIPS’ Small Farms, Big Futures strategy and reflects a shared commitment to expanding farmer-centred extension systems beyond Kenya while adapting proven approaches to local contexts. At the heart of the collaboration is a shared belief that transformation happens when practical technologies meet trusted local delivery systems.
With training and financial support from FIPS, Farm Africa will scale diversified, climate-smart agricultural technologies through the VBA model. The partnership aims to co-create an approach suited to Uganda’s local realities. This will increase productivity, strengthen resilience to climate shocks, and support sustainable incomes for smallholder families. The collaboration will strengthen last-mile extension services and accelerate farmer adoption across priority value chains, including maize, beans, horticulture, sweet potatoes, and poultry.
Julius Esanyu, programme coordinator at Farm Africa in Uganda, emphasised the strategic value of the partnership.
“Farm Africa has built strong community networks in northeastern Uganda, but scaling impact requires strengthening the quality and consistency of last-mile extension.
Partnering with FIPS Africa allows us to enhance our VBA system with tested methodologies, diversified technologies, and structured training. By adding 80 new VBAs and expanding outreach to 10,000 more farmers, we are accelerating productivity gains and building more resilient livelihoods across multiple value chains.”
Susan Ndung’u, Training Manager at FIPS Africa, described the launch as a pivotal moment for the organisation’s regional growth.
“Farm Africa’s incorporation of the VBA approach in Uganda is a major milestone for FIPS Africa. We have been using the VBA model to strengthen seed systems in around 16 countries. Farm Africa is building an integrated, farmer-centred extension model. This approach is critical to making VBAs viable in the longer term.
Farm Africa now joins other organisations in Tanzania, Sierra Leone, Madagascar, and Togo, delivering the full VBA model, demonstrating the growing African footprint. These partnerships show that the VBA model is adaptable, scalable, and capable of delivering measurable impact in diverse contexts.”
These partnerships focus on what works: field-tested technologies, trusted community-based advisors, diversified production systems, and strong institutional collaboration.
Through this new collaboration, Farm Africa will increase coverage to 180 Village-Based Advisors supporting 22,000 farmers, alongside the 20,000 farmers reached through community-based facilitators. VBAs will provide hands-on demonstrations, share trial packs, and connect farmers to input and output markets, ensuring adoption translates into income growth.
Susan Ndung’u added:
“FIPS has a standing invitation to strategic partners and funders to work with us to support the adaptation and scaling of the VBA model into new geographies and value chains, delivering measurable farmer-level impact while strengthening local agricultural systems across Africa. Please do not hesitate to contact me.”
Farm Africa is FIPS’ second partner in Uganda. Since 2019, FIPS has worked with
AsOne Ministries to deliver the VBA programme in Eastern Uganda. Since then, AsOne has trained 150 VBAs supporting over 25,000 farmers across five districts.
