Transforming Ugandan Farmers
Join our mission to create a better world and empower communities
for change in Uganda and beyond.
Transforming Ugandan Farmers
Empowering Ugandan Farmers
Transforming Ugandan Farmers is a nonprofit organization dedicated to equipping farmers in Uganda with the education, resources, and community support they need to radically improve their agricultural production and livelihoods.
By partnering with a local agronomist and the Uganda-based NGO Innovations for Transformation Initiative (ITI), we provide training and support to community-based groups of Ugandan farmers, helping them become self-sufficient in growing and selling their crops to support themselves and their families.
Who We Are
Our History
In the summer of 2019, Joe Schmidt stood in a maize (corn) field in the Kamwenge District of Uganda. The farmer from Ottawa, Illinois, had so many questions.
The soil was rich and, with Uganda’s tropical climate, could produce two crops per year. But crop yields were poor.
Joe had met several Ugandan farmers who were struggling to grow enough food to feed their families. There was no surplus to sell and buy other needed goods—or to send their children to school. Joe and his wife, Nathalie, knew they needed to do something. In February 2020, they returned to Uganda and interviewed farmers to better understand the situation & how they could help.
The farmers voiced a need for education. They wanted to learn how to become better farmers so they could better provide for their families.
The Ugandan farmers wanted more for themselves, and the Schmidts were struck by how little “more” was. They wanted to be able to pay their children’s school tuition fees, access medical care, have better clothing, and sleep on mattresses.
The Schmidts hired Peter Baguma, a local agronomist, and, in August 2020, Peter began educating 60 Ugandan farmers on best practices, such as planting in rows, through Transforming Ugandan Farmers (TUF).
As of 2024, more than 240 farmers have been trained through TUF. Most farmers see doubled yields in their first year. After three years, some farmers have seen a five-fold increase in yields.
Our Approach
We are farmers helping farmers, starting in the Kamwenge District of western Uganda. We provide training, education and initial resources needed to help farmers improve their production and profitability.
Our ultimate goal is to see farmers who participate in TUF achieve self-sufficiency and create a ripple effect in their communities by training up new generations of successful farmers.
To keep us connected to life on-the-ground in Uganda, we work with a local agronomist and Uganda-based NGO Innovations for Transformation (ITI). We train community-based groups of about 30 Ugandan farmers at a time. Typically, we can train two groups each year.
Our Process
- First, groups of farmers in a community self-organize and obtain status as a Village Savings & Loan Association (VSLA) through our NGO partner ITI Uganda. Association members pool their money and individual members can take out microloans to pay for farming inputs.
- Farmers receive training on best agronomic practices from our local agronomist. Examples of practices include planting in rows, seed spacing, precision fertilization, and crop rotation.
- Farmers observe the differences between traditional and best practices at the TUF Central Demonstration Farm for one growing season, approximately five months. Each farmer receives a notebook to record what they learn and a small amount of seed to begin applying it.
- Each farmer receives a bag of improved, hybrid seed and a bag of fertilizer to implement what they have learned on their own land.
- The VSLA remains active after farmers graduate from the TUF program. Farmers also continue to have access to our local agronomist, who regularly checks in with them.
We believe farmers learn best when learning with and from other farmers, which is why the community aspect of our process is so important. Individuals in each community group are accountable to one another, and we aim to foster an environment where they are free to collaborate and innovate in positive ways beyond our expectations.
TUF Central Demonstration Farm
In 2023, we purchased a centralized demonstration farm
where our agronomist can show farmers old and new
methods side-by-side.
This 5-acre plot of land is a typical garden site in Uganda. Our main goal with this land is to provide a place that shows the value of unfamiliar techniques, such as planting in properly spaced rows and crop rotation, before a farmer takes steps toward adoption.
Where We're Headed
We have big ideas to support the farmers in Kamwenge &
beyond!
While most Ugandan farmers grow maize, they also grow—and need—other crops. We would like to expand into demonstrating best practices for additional food-related and commodity agriculture beyond maize.
Improving yields and production is a first step. TUF is also interested in helping develop local markets and value-added opportunities.
A few of our goals include:
● Provide a market at the TUF Central Demonstration Farm where TUF farmers could store and sell their maize.
● Buy maize shellers so that the harvest can be stored more efficiently, in bags.
● Build a facility where maize could be milled into corn flour
(a Ugandan staple) and otherwise processed to created value-added products.
● Create a store with inputs and tools readily available.
● Provide grain transportation with a grain hauling vehicle.
While we have big plans, but we recognize our plans are not always what is needed. Our primary goal is to remain obedient to God in taking the right next step each and every day.
It is important to us to humbly help bring to life the goals of the local people and to encourage them on their own path from subsistence farming to thriving in all areas of their lives.
Are you ready to join us in transforming lives?
Why Our Mission Matters
A Look at Farming in Uganda
A Look at Farming in Uganda
A Look at Farming in Uganda
● 80% of Ugandan households cultivate the land and/or raise livestock. Source: Uganda Bureau of Statistics
● 55% of rural households in Uganda experience multidimensional poverty (lacking sufficient access to health care and nutrition, education, sanitation and clean water, housing and shelter, and protection from violence and exploitation). Source: UNICEF
● 99% of agricultural households in Uganda grow maize (corn). Other popular crops are beans, cassava, and banana. Coffee is Uganda’s principal export. Source: Uganda Bureau of Statistics
● The average agricultural holding is 1.3 hectares (3.2 acres), with 67% holding less than 1 hectare (2.5 acres). Source: Uganda Bureau of Statistics
What We Do
A Look at Farming in Uganda
A Look at Farming in Uganda
Working with a local agronomist and Uganda-based NGO Innovations for Transformation Initiative (ITI), we train community-based groups of about 30 Ugandan farmers at a time in:
● Agronomic practices, including proper spacing and use of improved seed and fertilizer.
● Financial literacy, including savings and credit management.
Each farmer participant receives a bag of seed and fertilizer to get them started as well as ongoing support and encouragement.
Our goal is for these farmers to become self-sufficient in their ability to grow and sell more of their crops so they can better provide for themselves and their families.
Successes of TUF Farmers
Successes of TUF Farmers
Successes of TUF Farmers
● 90% are embracing the new concepts taught through TUF.
● Most farmers double yields in first year, and some have increased yields as much as five times after three years.
● 70% are able to purchase improved seed on their own after one calendar year in the program (up from 5% before TUF).
● 95% of TUF farmers’ children now attend school.
● 80% of TUF farmers have basic cell phones.
“The training I received for one growing season has truly revolutionized my approach to maize farming … Using improved seeds, proper application of fertilizers, (and) precision planting were game-changers … Your support will not only change the life of my family but will also empower (my) entire community. The maize fields are flourishing, and the future looks brighter than ever.” –Evelyn, a proud maize farmer who joined TUF in 2023
Transform a Life Today!
Successes of TUF Farmers
Successes of TUF Farmers
Too many Ugandan farmers today struggle to feed their families and provide shelter, clothing, medical care, and school tuition fees to send their children to school.
When we asked, we found out Ugandan farmers want education. They want to learn better methods of growing crops so they could better take care of their families.
You can be part of this agricultural education transformation and change the lives of Ugandan farmers for the better.
One of the unexpected joys of working in Uganda has been connecting with other people who share our love for the Ugandan people. We’d love to hear from you if you have questions or ideas for us!
Meet Our Farmers
The majority of Ugandans are involved in agriculture. If you met them, you would feel their warmth and positivity. To build relationships with Ugandan farmers has been a tremendous blessing.
Here is what they have to say about their experience with TUF:
Davis
Jennifer
Medard
Davis is a member and secretary of the Rwenkoba Maize Farmers Association.
Davis is happy with all the knowledge he has learned through educational seminars and demonstrations, and he is happy that his maize and soybeans have improved in yield. He harvested 3,000 pounds of maize from 10 kilograms of improved seed planted on 1 acre, and he
Davis is a member and secretary of the Rwenkoba Maize Farmers Association.
Davis is happy with all the knowledge he has learned through educational seminars and demonstrations, and he is happy that his maize and soybeans have improved in yield. He harvested 3,000 pounds of maize from 10 kilograms of improved seed planted on 1 acre, and he also notes that the improved cultivation methods benefited production of his own native seeds.
“We have achieved so much—every person, every member is encouraged to go and dig [farm] well in his or her garden in our groups,” Davis says. “We are doing well, and I want to thank Nathalie and Joe. They have given us good knowledge. They have provided us some hybrid seeds. We are so thankful for what you have done for us. Thank you and may God bless you as you get more knowledge to give and support to Ugandan farmers.”
Medard
Jennifer
Medard
Medard is a member of the Kihura Maize Farmers Group.
Medard is married and has five children. Prior to participating in TUF, his family broadcast-sowed seeds, so they never knew how many seeds they had planted in their 1-acre garden. They also did not use fertilizer or improved seeds. The seed they saved from previous years’ crops was po
Medard is a member of the Kihura Maize Farmers Group.
Medard is married and has five children. Prior to participating in TUF, his family broadcast-sowed seeds, so they never knew how many seeds they had planted in their 1-acre garden. They also did not use fertilizer or improved seeds. The seed they saved from previous years’ crops was poor quality, and their yields were low. They did not have enough income to keep their children in school, pay medical bills, or keep enough food in the house.
Medard greatly appreciated the financial training he received through TUF and how the program brought their community together “as a team, very cohesive, appreciative of each other.” He now plants seeds in rows, sowing only one or two seed in appropriately spaced holes. As a result, he has tripled his yields and he was able to generate enough income to send his daughter back to school.
Jennifer
Jennifer
Jennifer
Jennifer is a member of the Kihura Maize Farmers Group. Jennifer is married and has five children, four boys and one girl. “We used to plant anyhow … by throwing or by digging here and there, but now we know how to plant in order, in lines, so we are so grateful. … We used to not use fertilizer and plant anyhow and let the crop grow. Now
Jennifer is a member of the Kihura Maize Farmers Group. Jennifer is married and has five children, four boys and one girl. “We used to plant anyhow … by throwing or by digging here and there, but now we know how to plant in order, in lines, so we are so grateful. … We used to not use fertilizer and plant anyhow and let the crop grow. Now today we learned you can put a little fertilizer down, cover the soil with a little bit of soil, then you put the seed. Do this so the fertilizer doesn’t spoil (burn) the seed. Then it grows well. So for that one I’m so grateful. I’m so happy.” Jennifer is looking forward to a great harvest. She describes herself as “a maize farmer from Kyakanyemera village that has been transformed by the invaluable knowledge and support provided by our friends in Transforming Ugandan Farmers (TUF).”
She says the training she received “has truly revolutionized (her) approach to maize farming. The project’s demonstration garden became (her) haven of inspiration and a source of practical wisdom.”
Evelyn eagerly embraced the new methods and technique and has seen the benefits, which she says are” nothing short of miraculous.”
“The key to my success was the meticulous integration of what I learned from the demonstration garden into my own practices,” Evelyn says. “Proper space of two seeds per hole, using improved seeds, and use of fertilizers will always be my farming routine practices moving forward, thought at a cost. These adjustments not only resulted in healthier maize crops but also contributed to improved yields, and our household income will ultimately improve.”
Evelyn
Jennifer
Jennifer
Evelyn is a member of the Kyakanyemera Farmers Group.
Evelyn describes herself as “a maize farmer from Kyakanyemera village that has been transformed by the invaluable knowledge and support provided by our friends in Transforming Ugandan Farmers (TUF).”
She says the training she received “has truly revolutionized (her) approach to maize fa
Evelyn is a member of the Kyakanyemera Farmers Group.
Evelyn describes herself as “a maize farmer from Kyakanyemera village that has been transformed by the invaluable knowledge and support provided by our friends in Transforming Ugandan Farmers (TUF).”
She says the training she received “has truly revolutionized (her) approach to maize farming. The project’s demonstration garden became (her) haven of inspiration and a source of practical wisdom.”
Evelyn eagerly embraced the new methods and technique and has seen the benefits, which she says are” nothing short of miraculous.”
“The key to my success was the meticulous integration of what I learned from the demonstration garden into my own practices,” Evelyn says. “Proper space of two seeds per hole, using improved seeds, and use of fertilizers will always be my farming routine practices moving forward, thought at a cost. These adjustments not only resulted in healthier maize crops but also contributed to improved yields, and our household income will ultimately improve.”
Meet Our Leadership
Joe and Nathalie Schmidt
Joe and Nathalie Schmidt
Joe and Nathalie Schmidt
Joe and Nathalie are Ottawa, Illinois, grain farmers who first connected to Uganda in 2013 when Nathalie visited the country with daughter Anna. Anna had traveled with a local group led by Debbie Damron and Dianne Jamison the previous summer and, with community support, sponsored a Ugandan family’s purchase of a small herd of goats.
During Anna and Nathalie’s visit in 2013, they met the Alberts family. From 2013-2019, the Schmidts and a friend, Kathy Ferko, sponsored the five Alberts boys’ school tuition fees and stayed involved in Debbie and Dianne’s mission.
In the summer of 2019, Joe visited Uganda for the first time and saw for himself the great need of Ugandan farmers. He and Nathalie returned to Uganda in February 2020 to explore the potential to implement a farm project. They hired Peter Baguma, a local agronomist, and TUF was born.
Peter Baguma
Joe and Nathalie Schmidt
Joe and Nathalie Schmidt
Peter Baguma was born to a farming family in the village of Miranga in the Kabarole District of western Uganda. From a young age, it was clear that Peter possessed a curiosity and passion for understanding how things worked. His parents fostered a supportive environment and encouraged learning and exploration.
Peter excelled in school. During high school, he won a regional science fair with a groundbreaking project on renewable energy. He went on to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in agriculture from Mountains of the Moon University in September 2016. During college, he engaged in cutting-edge research, focusing on “assessing the factors limiting efforts to eradicate poverty among subsistence farmers in Kabarole district.”
Following graduation, Peter founded a startup, Souvenir Agro, an input and consultancy firm in Kijura-Kabarole District. He also grows Irish potatoes and maize as another source of income for his family. He and his wife, Pretty Kabagambe, have four young children: Jovan, Joan, Jim and Joy.
Peter is a dedicated agronomist with a passion for transforming the agricultural landscape of his community. His career goals revolve around fostering self-sufficient and resilient rural communities that thrive harmoniously with their natural environments through farming activities. He is dedicated to empowering local farmers with the knowledge, skills and resources necessary to improve their livelihoods and contribute to the overall prosperity of their communities through Transforming Ugandan Farmers (TUF).
Giving
Here's how your dollars translate:
● $2 buys a grain bag to hold shelled maize.
● $7 buys a machete, the Ugandan farmer’s combine.
● $10 buys a hoe, the Ugandan farmer’s primary tool.
● $20 buys an extra large tarp, which is laid on the ground to assist in sun-drying maize.
● $60 buys a bag of fertilizer OR a 33-pound bag of hybrid maize seed.
● $100 buys a grain silo that can safely hold 500 L (14 bushels).
● $500 will sponsor a Ugandan farmer through the complete TUF program, changing the trajectory of life for them and their family forever.
● $1,800 buys a motorized sheller that removes maize from the ear so grain can be stored. One motorized sheller serves many farmers as it is shared amongst communities.
Give Online
If you are ready to transform lives today, you can give online through the Starved Rock Community Foundation TUF fund.
Give By Check
If you prefer, you may send a check made out to SRCCF with “TUF” in the memo line to:
Transforming Ugandan Farmers
c/o Joe and Nathalie Schmidt
3131 East 18th Road
Ottawa, IL 61350
Share Your Time
You can also give of your time. If you are interested in joining a group traveling to Uganda, contact us at tuf.farmers@gmail.com.
A Community Partner
We have partnered with our local community foundation, Starved Rock Country Community Foundation, to fund TUF. SRCCF has been an incredible partner since our beginnings. They make the process of transferring money internationally quick and smooth, which is important for ensuring our partners in Uganda have what they need to make TUF possible.
A small percentage of your donation will cover administrative fees, and the rest will go directly to our farming projects in Uganda.
About Starved Rock Community Foundation
Starved Rock Country Community Foundation (SRCCF) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization as designated by the IRS and the state of Illinois. Financial contributions are tax-deductible in accordance with IRS guidelines.