The year 2025 started on a happy note for six new teams of Entrepreneurs for Rural Access (ERA) Uganda, as they received a much-anticipated visit from Ezra Masolaki, Access Agriculture ERA Coach for Uganda. Each team also received a durable Buffalo Bicycle to help them in their work towards supporting the transition of rural farmers to agroecology through video training.
The six ERA teams are operating as part of the ‘Global Programme for Small-scale Agroecology Producers and Sustainable Food Systems Transformation Project’ (GP-SAEP), which is being implemented by the Global Forum for Rural Advisory Services (GFRAS) in collaboration with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) with funding from the European Union. Access Agriculture is a partner of this programme relating to access to knowledge and empowerment.
During his visit to the various ERA locations in Lira, Soroti, Bugiri, Buikwe and Sembabule districts, Ezra advised the teams on how to develop actions plans for their business goals on the use of the Smart Projectors that they had received from Access Agriculture. “He guided them through the process of identifying specific steps, tasks and resources that are critical to turning their ideas into reality,” said Blessings Flao, Access Agriculture Project Manager for GP-SAEP.
The ERA teams also organised video shows during Ezra’s visit to demonstrate their work with farmers and received guidance from him on the importance of farmers’ feedback. During one of these video shows held in Soroti on Managing aflatoxins in maize, over 50 farmers attended and appreciated the relevance of the content. One of them said, "I did not know until now the value of removing the rotten cobs from the good ones. I have been mixing them, and it's no wonder our flour was tasting sour.”
During Ezra’s visit, Buffalo Bicycles, which are designed for rugged conditions, were distributed to the ERA teams as part of a partnership agreement between the World Bicycle Relief and Access Agriculture. “ERA Teams are now equipped with Buffalo Bicycles, so that they can reach remote farmers with productive knowledge and skills,” said Ezra. The World Bicycle Relief addresses the transportation challenges faced by vulnerable communities who lack access to reliable and affordable transportation.
