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.
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.
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.
ILRI’s SAPLING program (2014–2024) has already helped thousands of farmers adopt innovations like:
AAA Farms is excited to integrate many of these innovations into our own training programs and on-farm support.
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:
We were especially inspired by the new SAAF vision:
“Value chain actors adopt climate-smart and environmentally healthy practices by 2035.”
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:
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.