Okere City Farmers Embrace Organic Agriculture

As the sun cast its golden hue over Okere City on July 9^th, 2025, 52 farmers—38 women and 14 men—gathered under the shea and banyan trees shed to start on a journey that will reshape their relationship with the land, their health, and the future of shea butter production. This hands-on training on organic pesticides and fertilizers was part of the Uganda Shea Carbon Project, an initiative supported by Forested and Bansk Beauty to embed carbon insetting within the shea butter supply chain.

At the heart of this initiative is regenerative agriculture—a bold, evidence-based response to environmental degradation, climate instability, and the pressures of modern food systems. In Okere, it’s becoming a powerful tool for rural transformation.

Why Regenerative Agriculture Matters

Mr. Ambrose, the Regenerative Agriculture Extension Officer for Okere, opened the training by framing the significance of organic inputs in the broader regenerative movement. “Organic pesticides and fertilizers play a critical role in regenerative agriculture,” he explained. “They reduce reliance on synthetic inputs, foster diverse ecosystems, protect soil health, and enable us to farm in ways that regenerate rather than deplete.”

As part of the Uganda Shea Carbon Project, these trainings serve not only to reduce emissions and sequester carbon in the soil but to enhance rural economic resilience, health outcomes, and food system equity.

Session 1: From Harm to Healing – Rethinking Pesticides

In the first part of the session, Mr. Ambrose, a certified pesticide handler trained by Uganda’s Ministry of Agriculture (MAAIF), guided participants through the often-unseen dangers of synthetic pesticides. Farmers shared personal experiences of headaches and discomfort following pesticide use—clear signs of toxic exposure.

Mr. Ambrose emphasized the widespread consequences:

·       Health Risks: Chronic exposure to synthetic pesticides is linked to reproductive issues, cancer, and neurodevelopmental disorders.

·       Environmental Impact: Pesticide runoff contaminates water and kills beneficial insects like bees, critical for shea tree pollination.

·       Resistance & Misuse: Overuse leads to resistant pests, forcing dependence on stronger chemicals.

This eye-opening session inspired collective action. Farmers agreed to phase out synthetic chemicals in favor of homemade organic alternatives—a major step forward for both human and ecological health.

Session 1b: Learning to Make Organic Pesticides

Led by Mr. Richard, a community trainer from PAFAD, the second session demystified the process of creating effective, safe organic pesticides. Using ingredients like neem leaves, tomato leaves, African marigold, hot pepper, and garlic, farmers learned a recipe that is not only eco-friendly and affordable but highly effective.

Throughout the session, farmers:

Practically created a 5-liter batch of organic pesticide together.

Scaled up to independently produce 40 liters as a group.

Committed to using these solutions on their farms moving forward.

This broad-spectrum pesticide is naturally fermented and targets a range of pests without compromising pollinators or soil microbes.

Session 2: Feeding the Soil with Organic Fertilizer

The second training session, facilitated by Mrs. Adong Sarah, focused on organic fertilizers, sometimes referred to as “plant tea.” These nutrient-rich brews, made from local plant materials such as cassava leaves, blackjack, acacia, and wandering jew, offer a slow-release, sustainable alternative to chemical fertilizers.

“Organic fertilizers improve root development, restore soil biodiversity, and protect our environment,” Mrs. Sarah explained. “Best of all, they’re made from materials already found in our communities.”

Participants created and applied a 5-liter sample of organic fertilizer, reinforcing the practical steps and building confidence to replicate the process at home.

Women Leading the Way

With 38 of the 52 participants being women, this training also demonstrated the central role rural women play in ecological stewardship and regenerative farming. These women are not only shea nut gatherers or small-scale farmers—they are scientists, soil regenerators, and knowledge keepers. Their leadership is essential to building a regenerative shea supply chain that is good for the planet, the body, and the community.

A Vision Rooted in Soil and Solidarity

The work in Okere City is more than just training—it is about transforming agriculture into a climate solution and economic opportunity. With partnerships like those of Forested and Bansk Beauty, the Uganda Shea Carbon Project exemplifies how carbon insetting can directly benefit producer communities while improving supply chain sustainability.

As the first batches of organic pesticide and fertilizer begin to feed the land, the people of Okere are laying down roots—roots of knowledge, of care, and regeneration. The future of shea butter is being nurtured not just in trees, but in the hands and hearts of farmers committed to growing a better world from the ground up.

A snippet about Plant Tea making by Ojok Okello