In Uganda, the Kangulumira Horticulture and Vanilla Cooperative Society (KHVCS) has benefited from technical support to strengthen the sustainability of its production systems. As part of the Fit For Market Plus (FFM+) programme, the mission focused on composting, integrated pest management and agroecological practices, resulting in concrete recommendations — including the introduction of biochar to valorise organic waste.
COLEAD, under the Fit For Market Plus (FFM+) programme, carried out a technical support mission with the Kangulumira Horticulture and Vanilla Cooperative Society (KHVCS) in Uganda, aimed at strengthening the sustainability and resilience of its production systems. The mission focused on improving composting systems, integrated pest management (IPM) and agroecological practices.
From knowledge to practice, in the field
Building on the knowledge already gained through COLEAD training, the mission combined technical assessment with hands-on coaching to help the cooperative translate good agricultural practices into day-to-day actions. Through field visits, consultations, demonstrations and technical guidance, the expert worked alongside KHVCS management, technical staff and producers to identify ways to improve organic waste management, soil fertility and sustainable production.
A solid foundation, with room for progress
The mission confirmed that KHVCS has a strong foundation for organic production: a network of experienced producers and well-established certification systems. It also identified concrete levers for improvement: strengthening composting, making better use of pineapple residues, consolidating integrated pest management and disseminating agroecological practices more widely. Among the innovative recommendations is the introduction of biochar — via a Top-Lid UpDraft (TLUD) unit — to transform organic waste into a valuable soil amendment, improving resource efficiency while reducing environmental impact.
Lasting local ownership
Beyond the technical recommendations, the mission significantly strengthened the capacities of staff and producers through field-based coaching, enabling them to confidently implement improved composting techniques, sustainable soil fertility management and integrated pest management practices across the cooperative. The collaborative approach adopted throughout the mission consolidated local ownership of the actions and puts KHVCS in a strong position to sustain this progress well beyond the intervention.
This activity is supported by the Fit For Market Plus (FFM+) programme, implemented by COLEAD within the Framework of Development Cooperation between the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) and the European Union. This publication receives financial support from the European Union and the OACPS. The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of COLEAD and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union or the OACPS.