IGANGA DISTRICT:The Nawangaiza II Twezimbe Youth Farmers Group in Busoga is celebrating its first tomato harvest — a milestone made possible through the Stimulating Agribusiness for Youth Employment (SAYE) Project, a youth-focused initiative led by Heifer International Uganda in partnership with ASIGMA Group, CURAD, FSME, and FSDU. Formed in December 2024, the group’s 25 members — 17 young women and 8 young men share a common goal of transforming agriculture into a profitable and sustainable livelihood. With intensive training in agribusiness and good agronomic practices provided by the SAYE Project, the group planted 4.5 acres of tomatoes in April 2025.
From Idleness to Agribusiness
Group secretary Kintu Joshua, 32, recalls their early days: “We were just seated, with nothing productive to do. But when we came together as youth, we realized we could pool our ideas and energy to build something meaningful. At first, we didn’t view tomato growing as a business, but through the SAYE project, we’ve discovered it has the potential to uplift our lives.” The project provided more than just training. Through Trafford, a private sector partner, members received seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, watering cans, and a guaranteed market for their produce. Trafford also serves as the group’s off-taker, reducing post-harvest losses and market uncertainty.
A Promising First Harvest
From just a quarter acre, the group projects a return of UGX 7.5 million. Across all 4.5 acres, they expect to earn over UGX 135 million this season. “This is just the beginning,” says Kintu. “We have market assurance through Trafford a company inked to us through the project, we’re organized, and we’re now planning to expand beyond tomatoes. We are not going back to idleness again.”
Weathering Climate Challenges
The journey has not been without hurdles. Prolonged drought has slowed germination and reduced crop survival rates, while pests such as tomato wilt have threatened yields. With technical guidance from the SAYE consortium, however, the farmers are adopting better pest control methods and exploring climate-smart agriculture to reduce risks in future seasons such as irrigation.
Bigger Vision: Cooperative & Agrihub
The group’s long-term ambition is to form a cooperative and establish a local Agri hub — a facility that will support storage, value addition, and collective bargaining for better prices.
Group chairperson Wembawo Asnilafu, 30, outlines their vision: “We are not just growing tomatoes, but we are building a youth-led agri-enterprise. Once our cooperative is formed, we will access bigger markets and start value addition. That means more jobs for youth and stronger negotiating power for our produce.”
Impact Beyond the Group
Already, over 80 youth from the community have benefited from temporary work opportunities in planting, weeding, spraying, and harvesting. Many were previously unemployed. “Through this initiative, we’ve transformed lives,” says Wembawo. “These youth now earn income and have hope for a better future.” The SAYE project has so far reached over 70,000 young people across 11 districts in the Busoga region, with an ambitious target of supporting 250,000 youth into dignified and fulfilling work by 2029.
Looking Ahead
The Nawangaiza II Twezimbe Youth Farmers Group plans to diversify into passion fruit, watermelon, and onions in the next season — integrating climate-smart methods to ensure sustainable growth. In a country where youth unemployment and rural poverty remain pressing challenges, this Busoga-based initiative proves that, with the right skills, resources, and market access, agriculture can be both a source of income and a pathway to empowerment.
About the SAYE Project
The Stimulating Agribusiness for Youth Employment (SAYE) Project is a five-year initiative implemented by Heifer International Uganda in partnership with ASIGMA Group, CURAD, FSME, and FSDU. The project aims to transform the socio-economic wellbeing of 250,000 youth in the Busoga sub-region by 2029 through agribusiness training, market linkages, incubation, SME support, access to finance, and private sector engagement within selected value chains including poultry, oilseeds, beef and dairy and Horticulture.
