AAA Farms is proud to announce our recent participation in a four-day workshop hosted by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) at Skyz Hotel, Naguru. This workshop brought together leading players in Uganda’s pig value chain to confront the key challenges facing smallholder farmers and chart a bold, research-driven path forward.

ILRI’s mission is to improve lives in low- and middle-income countries through livestock science that enables more equitable, climate-smart, and resilient food systems. At AAA Farms, this aligns perfectly with our boots-on-the-ground approach to building better livelihoods through pig farming.

Key Takeaways from the ILRI Workshop

1. Tackling the Big Challenges

The workshop highlighted persistent obstacles faced by pig farmers—including high feed costs, limited access to commercial breeds, low market prices, and recurring disease risks. We know these issues well from our own fieldwork, and we’re encouraged to see partners like ILRI taking them head-on with actionable, science-based solutions.

2. The Power of Pig Manure

Pig manure isn’t waste—it’s an untapped resource. ILRI shared findings from a nationwide survey showing that over 95% of farmers use manure for fertilization, but poor handling methods result in nutrient loss, pollution, and health risks. Together, we aim to improve training around proper manure management for both soil health and clean energy potential, such as biogas.

3. Innovation That Works for Farmers

ILRI’s SAPLING program (2014–2024) has already helped thousands of farmers adopt innovations like:

  • Better herd health practices (biosecurity, iron injections, clean water)
  • Local feed production with verified nutrition
  • Artificial insemination to improve pig breeds
  • Farmer-friendly pig housing models
  • Gender and youth-focused programs that confront local norms

AAA Farms is excited to integrate many of these innovations into our own training programs and on-farm support.

4. What’s Next: SAAF (Sustainable Animal and Aquatic Foods)

Building on SAPLING, ILRI and its CGIAR partners are now launching SAAF, a bold 10-year initiative running from 2025 to 2035. The program will:

  • Strengthen pig value chains across Uganda and beyond
  • Expand access to improved feeds and genetics
  • Boost community health and food safety
  • Scale digital solutions for farmer training
  • Center women, youth, and local markets in food systems transformation

We were especially inspired by the new SAAF vision:

“Value chain actors adopt climate-smart and environmentally healthy practices by 2035.”

AAA Farms and ILRI: A Partnership in Progress

As part of this workshop, AAA Farms began exploring ways to collaborate more closely with ILRI to support pig farmers across Uganda. A formal meeting between our leadership teams is being scheduled to discuss joint efforts in:

  • Scaling Artificial Insemination access
  • Training on manure management and herd health
  • Enhancing market linkages and price stability
  • Empowering women and youth through inclusive pig farming

We're Just Getting Started

This workshop was not just a knowledge-sharing platform—it was a call to action. AAA Farms is committed to applying what we’ve learned and pushing forward with practical, farmer-first innovations that drive income, dignity, and sustainability in the Ugandan pig sector.

Stay tuned as we deepen our partnership with ILRI and expand our impact in the villages and farms that matter most.