Land-independent production practices raise incomes in Uganda

A Ugandan initiative is training groups of marginalised, landless women in vertical farming and vermi-composting to raise incomes and increase food security in the country’s capital.

Over 880 women from Ugandan slums are producing food crops, such as beans, eggplants, nakatti (a popular green vegetable), peas, spinach and tomatoes, through vertical farming. The women, who are organised into groups and trained by local NGO, Women Smile Uganda, have so far generated €93,482 in sales over 3 years. “They don’t own land so we train them in making vertical farms, and how to grow crops with drip irrigation,” says Lilian Nakigozi, CEO and co-founder of Women Smile Uganda.