In Uganda, smallholder farmers face the daunting challenges of climate change and limited agricultural services. Among them, Alito Joint Farmers’ Cooperative, situated in Northern Uganda's Kole District, struggled with low production and losses caused by climate-related shocks. Their difficulties in accessing essential agro-inputs, inadequate storage facilities, and fluctuating market prices hindered their ability to meet market demand.   

“Agribusinesses play a significant role in scaling up of climate adaptation measures in value chains. By leveraging the expertise and resources of Agri-SMEs, CRAFT seeks to implement comprehensive strategies that address the specific vulnerabilities posed by climate change.” Menno Keizer, the Climate Resilient Agribusiness for Tomorrow (CRAFT) Project’s multi-country manager.

As a native of the Netherlands, a country whose economy, much like that of East Africa, heavily relies on agriculture, I have witnessed firsthand the transformative power of intentional government policies and private sector involvement in the agri-food sector. Over the past five decades, the Netherlands has emerged as the world's second-largest agricultural producer by employing this recipe for success and I believe that East Africa has the potential to follow suit and soar as a leading agricultural producer, even in the face of climate risks.

Smallholder farmers feed two out of every three people in the world, yet they continue to grapple with the effects of climate change such as soil depletion, post-harvest losses and pests, and diseases, among others.