As part of a joint project with FAO Farmer Field School (FFS) in Uganda, eight youths belonging to three entrepreneur teams from Karamoja region in Uganda took part in an orientation course, 15-17 March, to master the use of a solar-powered Digisoft smart projector (containing all Access Agriculture farmer-training videos).
The three teams had won a smart projector each through the Access Agriculture Young Entrepreneur Challenge Fund initiative based on their business model on using the smart projector to screen farmer training videos in rural areas to bring about a positive change in the lives of farming communities. The winners of the Challenge Fund are called Entrepreneurs for Rural Access or ERAs, in short.
The ERA team members – (1) Muya James Jemo, Lopeyok Francis, and Adupa Eunice; (2) Nangilo Stephen, Charles Omega and Daniella; and (3) Ochen Umar Bashir and Nikolina Lemukol – were also coached on how to organise and facilitate video screenings within and beyond FFS settings. They learnt to use a data collection app to track video screenings.
These ERAs will be coached over a period of 18 months by Access Agriculture and will be connected with other ERAs across Africa through a community of practice.
