In Kampala Village, Butaleja District, Eastern Uganda, Namusyo Musa struggled for years with poor harvest despite having fertile land. Farming maize, sweet potatoes, bananas, and eggplants on one acre of land, his yields were low because he relied on traditional methods and lacked timely agricultural advice. “Before AgriPath, my crops were not doing well. I had little knowledge about soil fertility management, crop rotation, or intercropping. I just planted as I saw others doing,” Namusyo recalls.
Everything changed when he was introduced to the AgriPath project and the FarmBetter app. Through the app, he gained access to practical, localized lessons on soil fertility management, crop diversification, cover cropping, and climate-smart practices. This transformed his farming practices, his yields improved and incomes increased. “Through the app, I learned how to intercrop, plant cover crops, and to apply manure in my farm. Now my yields have doubled. For example, my maize harvest has increased from five to ten bags, and my income from maize has risen from 350,000 to 700,000 Ugandan shillings.” he says proudly.
The AgriPath project works with village-based agents such as Sihissa Saniya who support farmers and ensure knowledge reaches even those without smartphones. Working across four villages with 49 farmers, Saniya uses the hybrid model, training lead farmers who then mentor others. “Most farmers here relied on copying neighbors without understanding the science behind the practices. With AgriPath, their minds have opened up. They now know why certain practices work, and their yields reflect that change,” Saniya explains.
Flavia Agono that provides technical guidance under AgriPath from Kilimo Trust Uganda highlights how the project has bridged the gap between farmers and advisory services. “Previously, farmers had to wait for extension agents, which was slow and limited. AgriPath has changed that by putting knowledge in their hands through digital tools. Even for those without smartphones, model farmers share insights, ensuring no one is left behind.”
The AgriPath project is implemented with support from German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ) and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) through a consortium of scientists from the Centre for Development and Environment (CDE) at the University of Bern, digital agriculture innovation leader Grameen Foundation, the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), and the digital agricultural advisory services start-up Farmbetter.