A training session aimed at empowering champion farmers with smartphone technology concluded successfully during the week of April 22nd to 26th. The training, which saw a robust attendance of 213 participants, focused on teaching farmers how to use the Picture Based Insurance (PBI) application on their smartphones. This initiative is part of a broader effort to raise awareness among farmers about the benefits of insurance, particularly against climate risks.
The training attracted a diverse group of farmers, with 116 men and 97 women participating. The high turnout was bolstered by strong endorsements from government officials, including the Resident District Commissioners of Sheema and Bushenyi, who represented the President in their respective districts.
Several key success factors emerged from the training:
- Government Endorsement: The presence and support of government officials were pivotal in lending credibility and importance to the training sessions.
- High Interest in Insurance: Over 80% of the participating farmers expressed a keen interest in obtaining insurance to protect against climate-related risks, highlighting a growing awareness and concern about climate change impacts.
- Smartphone Distribution: PBI smartphones were successfully distributed to the champion farmers, ensuring they have the necessary tools to utilize the PBI application.
- Effective Training: The champion farmers received comprehensive instruction on how to operate the PBI application, equipping them with the skills needed to leverage technology for better farm management.
Looking ahead, several next steps have been outlined to ensure the sustainability and expansion of this initiative:
- Ongoing Training: Thirty champion farmers will continue to train farmers within their respective groups, ensuring the knowledge and skills gained are disseminated widely.
- Onboarding New Farmers: Each champion farmer will onboard 20 farmers from their cooperative and region, with the lists of these farmers to be submitted during the week of May 20th to 25th.
- Premium Payments and Monitoring: Onboarded farmers will pay a premium to Agro Consortium, after which monitoring using the PBI tools will commence.
This initiative represents a significant step towards modernizing farming practices in Uganda, promoting the use of technology, and enhancing the resilience of farmers to climate risks. The successful completion of the training session and the enthusiastic response from farmers signal a positive future for agricultural innovation and insurance adoption in the region.
