The launch of the Ateker Development Foundation Multi-Actor Partnership (ADEFO MAP2) project in Kapelebyong district marks more than just the start of new development initiatives. It signals a transformative chapter for communities in Teso sub-region in eastern Uganda.
With strong government backing and the proven track record of SOCADIDO, this intervention is poised to become a true game changer for farmers, especially women, and farmer households across the district.
The Chief Administrative Officer of Kapelebyong Mr. Simon Peter Akileng underscored the significance of the partnership between government and SOCADIDO, describing it as a practical boost to ongoing efforts aimed at enhancing productivity and market access.
He noted that concepts like “value chain,” “increasing income,” and “farmer productivity” are no longer theoretical terms confined to policy documents, they are now realities reshaping lives at the grassroots.
His remarks captured the essence of why the launch in Kapelebyong was significant. The district, largely dependent on agriculture, has long needed structured support to transition from subsistence farming to commercial production.
Through ADEFO -MAP2 project, farmers will not only receive technical support but also gain access to organized markets, better farming practices, and collective bargaining power. This shift from isolated production to coordinated value chain development is what positions the project as transformative.
Mr. Akileng applauded SOCADIDO for deliberately targeting specific areas for support, ensuring that interventions are tailored to local needs rather than generalized approaches. He also called upon political leaders to mobilize communities to fully embrace the project, emphasizing that ownership and participation are key to sustainability.
Hon. Teddy Kamede, LC5 Woman Councillor representing Okungur sub-county and Secretary for Works and Technical Services, highlighted that with 60% participation of women targeted under the new initiative, implementation is expected to be smoother and more impactful.
“We have always registered tangible impact through SOCADIDO’s projects,” she noted. “This new focus on women’s empowerment is very timely and will make implementation easier, as women are active and committed participants.”
Her remarks point to a crucial fact that when women are economically empowered, entire households benefit. Increased incomes translate into better nutrition, school attendance, healthcare access, and overall improved living standards.
According to Ben Boham Okiror, the ADEFO-MAP2 Project Coordinator, the project seeks to address persistent agricultural challenges such as subsistence farming, food insecurity, multidimensional poverty, pests and diseases, and, the high (30-40%) post-harvest losses realized by smallholder farmers.
He noted that over 95 percent of the population in the Teso sub-region relies on agriculture, mostly at a subsistence level, with heavy dependence on rain-fed farming amid erratic weather patterns.
“These challenges can only be addressed through cooperation, coordination, and joint learning along the value chains,” Okiror emphasized.
If stakeholders embrace the this project indeed it will be a game changer. Our economy has it’s piller in agriculture