Soybean Empowerment for Economic Development and Social Protection (SEEDs)

Soybean provides farmers with an opportunity to generate income from a crop that has an established market and can also be processed into higher-value products. In Uganda, soybean is widely sold as a cash crop, while opportunities for processing create potential for farmers and entrepreneurs to earn from the crop beyond its sale as raw grain.

This project supports participants to make the most of this opportunity by strengthening how they produce soybean. Farmers take part in agricultural training, building practical knowledge they can apply throughout the growing season.

They also develop their understanding of post-harvest handling so they can protect the quality of their crop before it reaches the market.

Unpredictable rainfall and longer dry periods can make it harder for farmers in Isingiro to maintain reliable crop production. SEEDs helps participants adapt their farming practices so they can make better use of available water and protect their crops when weather conditions become less predictable.

Farmers learn how to conserve moisture in the soil by planting crops using specific techniques, maintaining ground cover, using crop residues and reducing unnecessary soil disturbance. They also explore planting approaches that make better use of available rainfall, including choosing suitable planting times and spacing crops appropriately. These practices can help farmers manage periods when rainfall arrives later than expected or stops for longer periods during the growing season.

Having a crop to sell does not always translate into a reliable income when farmers have limited influence within the market. The project strengthens farmer groups so participants can take a more collective approach to selling their soybean and explore ways to earn more from what they produce.

Farmers join groups to build their understanding of market requirements and develop their ability to engage with buyers as a collective, selling in bulk. Participants also explore value addition, turning soybean into products that can be sold for more than raw grain such as soybean flour and roasted soybean snacks.

Unpredictable agricultural income can make it difficult for households to manage periods when money is tight or invest when an opportunity arises. The project strengthens participants’ ability to manage their finances through community-based savings and access to appropriate financial services. Participants join community savings groups where members save regularly and can borrow from funds built within their groups. This gives people a practical way to set money aside while creating access to small loans without relying solely on income from the farming season.

Farmers and entrepreneurs also build their financial literacy, so they can better understand how to manage savings and make informed decisions when borrowing. The project strengthens links between community savings groups and formal financial institutions, creating opportunities for participants to access larger amounts of finance when appropriate.

SEEDs supports participants to explore additional income opportunities alongside soybean farming, creating greater flexibility in how households earn and manage money. Participants develop skills that can support complementary enterprises and identify opportunities that fit alongside their existing livelihoods.

The project also raises awareness of labour rights among farmers and Village Agents. Participants learn more about their rights at work and what decent working conditions should look like, helping them make more informed choices around employment and enterprise opportunities.

Alongside this, participants learn about voluntary contributions to Uganda’s National Social Security Fund. This introduces social protection as part of longer-term financial planning, particularly for people whose livelihoods are largely based outside formal employment. Participants can consider how social protection fits alongside their farming income and other economic activities when planning for the future.