In Uganda, the annual general meeting of the Young Farmers Federation of Uganda (UNYFA) on 27 August 2019 saw the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, which kicked off the international young farmers’ exchange programme of German and Ugandan farmers.
The agreement was signed by UNYFA President Geoffrey Okot and UNYFA CEO Denis Kabiito as well as Gerald Dohme (Deputy Secretary General of the German Farmers’ Association, DBV) as representative of the DBV and the Schorlem Foundation of the DBV.
Both sides underlined the great importance of the exchange, which allows trainees from both countries to master new challenges and to further their education and development in a variety of ways. The first 20 internships will start in October 2019.
Following the signing ceremony, Johannes Leberer (Schorlemer Foundation) and Dirk Schmülgen (AHA) continued their stay in Uganda with a visit to the possible host companies. The farms reflect the very different agriculture in Uganda. The Bulamu Mixed Farm, for example, a diverse farm with arable farming, horticulture, livestock and poultry breeding, is a so-called training farm. Ugandan farmers are regularly trained there in their agricultural skills. The Orchard House Farm in Nakasongola and the Katigondo Seminary Farm offer a similar variety. The latter ensures the care and maintenance of about 300 students and employees of a seminary.
The exchange program is part of the AHA and DBV project “Strengthening of Farmers’ Organisations in Africa and India”. The focus of the program is on the one hand on professional exchange and on the other hand on integration into the social structures on the farms. In this way it is possible to gain a better understanding of each other’s thoughts and actions. Due to the close cooperation between the Schorlemer Foundation and AHA, the interns benefit not only from living and working on the German and Ugandan farms. In seminars along the internship period, competencies in self-organisation and knowledge of possibilities for organisational development are also promoted.
The first exchange of interns starts with a joint preparation on October 27, 2019. The final session will take place during the International Green Week in Berlin in mid-January 2020. There are still places available for German interns in Uganda.
