Busoga Consortium and Chinese Agriculture Experts Tour Chili and Soybean Farmers in Busoga Sub-Region, Uganda

The Busoga Consortium for Development (BCD), in partnership with experts from China Agricultural University, embarked on a strategic field tour of chili and soybean farmers across Busoga’s model agriculture villages. The visit is part of ongoing efforts to assess the progress of the Village Agriculture Model (VAM), which has now entered its first harvest phase.

The delegation toured three pilot communities Namayombe in Namayingo District, Mashaiaga in Mayuge District, and Busana in Kamuli District which were selected for the initial rollout of the project. Over 170 farmers are currently harvesting chili and soybean crops cultivated on more than 100 acres of farmland, marking a major milestone since the program’s inception.

The field tour was led by Dr. Mula Anthony, Director General of BCD, alongside Professor Xu Jin, Assistant Dean and Associate Professor at China Agricultural University. The team conducted on-site evaluations focusing on yield quality, farmer participation, and the sustainability of farming practices. They were later joined by Professor Li Xiaoyun, Lead Chair at China Agricultural University, who arrived midweek to reinforce monitoring and collaboration.

“This is more than just farming it’s about transitioning entire communities into the money economy,” said Dr. Mula Anthony during the Kamuli District visit. “With this model, we are demonstrating that smallholder farmers can achieve commercial success through the right structure, knowledge, and support.”

Professor Li’s visit holds strategic importance, as it aligns with upcoming high-level engagements, including a planned meeting with the President of Uganda. He is also meeting with 15 Ugandan youth recently trained in China through a rural transformation program co-organized with Tencent Holdings. These young entrepreneurs are now actively involved in implementing the Village Agriculture Model in their home communities.

During the tour, Professor Xu Jin praised the efforts of both the farmers and BCD.

“I am very pleased with the progress made. What we are witnessing is the transformation of rural livelihoods through structured support and commitment,” he said.

Looking ahead, BCD and its Chinese partners are working to introduce improved post-harvest technologies, particularly soybean drying tapelines, to enhance crop quality and reduce post-harvest losses. In addition, BCD plans to launch a poultry project in August, where each participating household will receive five chickens as a step toward income diversification.

“With chili, soybeans, and now poultry, we’re building a multi-stream rural economy,” added Mula. “We project that within one year, model villages will become self-reliant and collectively generate up to UGX 7.8 billion annually.”

With strong international collaboration, committed local leadership, and increasing interest from other districts, the Village Agriculture Model is rapidly gaining traction as a potential national framework for rural economic transformation.