Kick-start workshop on improved food crops marketing through appropriate transport for poor farmers in Uganda

The United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID) Crop Post-Harvest Programme started to fund the first phase of the project on "Improved Food Crops Marketing through Appropriate Transport for Poor Farmers in Uganda" in April 2002. Subject to the results of a review by March 2003, the project may be extended on terms to be agreed on. The project purpose is to develop and promote strategies that will improve food security of poor households through increased availability and improved quality of food and better access to markets. The main outputs of the project are: a) Baseline study, b) Validated technology for IMTs, c) Promotional material. The outputs of this project will enhance the understanding of issues related to rural transport in Uganda, such as needs for intermediate means of transportation, constraints to up-take, and potential implications of improved transport for the farming system. Means of transportation will be tested and validated and the recommendations consequently developed will be presented to private sector associations, Government bodies (relevant Ministries), and National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO), the donor community, non-government Organisations (NGOs), and relevant Networks. Their uptake will lead to an improvement of poor fanners' livelihoods