By Mike Rwothomio

ZOMBO : Community Empowerment for Rural Development (CEFORD), a non-governmental organization, has equipped over 1,000 youths in Zombo District with skills in commercial agriculture, urging them to leverage these competencies to enhance their livelihoods and drive economic transformation.

Under the three-year Aradu Pi Fur II project, funded by Swiss-based NGO CO:OPERAID, CEFORD is building the capacity of youths in commercial farming practices.

Launched in 2023, the initiative began by identifying motivated youths and establishing one-acre demonstration sites across project areas. These sites serve as training hubs, equipped with resources tailored to enterprise preferences such as apiary, horticulture, piggery, and poultry.

The project targets lower local government units, including Kango, Atyak, Athuma, Alangi, and Zombo Town Council.

During a district monitoring exercise on June 12, 2025, which included field visits to assess progress, CEFORD Project Officer Comfort Kwiocwiny highlighted the project’s transformative impact on beneficiaries’ livelihoods since its inception.

The initiative is delivering significant economic and social benefits to Zombo’s predominantly agrarian rural youth population.

Kwiocwiny encouraged the trainees, stating, “I urge all skilled youths to apply the acquired knowledge practically to lift yourselves out of poverty.” 

The training, delivered through hands-on and theoretical methods, is inclusive of all educational backgrounds, with CEFORD emphasizing life-changing outcomes for participants.

Kwiocwiny noted, “Youths in horticulture, poultry, and piggery are already reaping benefits. These enterprises yield quick returns when approached diligently.”

The project aligns with Uganda’s National Development Plan III and the Agro-Industrialization Program, complementing government initiatives like the Parish Development Model (PDM), which aims to transition rural economies from subsistence to commercial agriculture.

Beneficiary Impact

Youths like Douglas Oloya of Kango Marketing Association have capitalized on their horticulture training, becoming leading suppliers of vegetables and eggplants in local markets.

“We owe our success to CEFORD’s training,” Oloya remarked.

Similarly, Gertrude Kawambe, a Kango beneficiary, transformed her livelihood through piggery. Starting with one pig in 2023, she now owns 15, generating substantial income.

“This project has made me an expert in piggery management,” she said.

Emmanuel Oyungrwoth, Chairperson of Atyak Farmers Marketing Association, expressed optimism, stating, “This project is empowering us to become self-reliant and champion commercial agriculture to improve our living standards.”

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Meanwhile, Zombo Town Council Youth Farmer Marketing Association, led by Chairperson Collins Ngacako, has integrated Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) for its 285 members, boosting financial resilience.

Exposure visits to demonstration sites have further enhanced production through modern techniques, including improved seed varieties, integrated pest management, and efficient livestock rearing.

Government and District Perspectives

Dr. Walter Kumakech, Zombo’s District Production Officer, urged youths to tap into government programs like Emyooga, PDM, Youth Livelihood Program, and Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Programme (UWEP) to scale their agribusiness ventures.

He also called for "collaboration between CEFORD and government extension workers to enhance service delivery and ensure long-term impact"

Zombo LCV Chairperson James Oruna Oyullu praised CEFORD’s timely intervention, noting its alignment with government efforts to address youth unemployment.

Assistant Resident District Commissioner Bruno Mananu emphasized the need for rigorous follow-up to sustain beneficiaries’ enterprises, commending CEFORD for complementing government programs.

Future Prospects

The initiative’s focus on market-driven production is poised to promote value addition, such as processing honey and poultry products, enhancing product competitiveness.

CEFORD, alongside consortium partners like LICO and Nebbi-NGO Forum, is also implementing school infrastructure projects in seven underserved primary schools in Zombo, funded by CO:OPERAID, while championing other transformative regional programs.

By integrating with government-led efforts, CEFORD’s commercial agriculture initiative is creating a robust ecosystem for Zombo’s youth to transition into sustainable, profitable agribusinesses, fostering economic resilience in rural communities.

According to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (2024), youth unemployment in Uganda stands at 6.6%, with higher rates in rural areas like Zombo, where limited access to skills and opportunities exacerbates economic challenges. Initiatives like CEFORD’s are critical in addressing this issue by equipping youths with marketable agricultural skills.

Mike Rwothomio is news editor at zoomer Africa