Okere Farmers Boost Regenerative Agriculture Skills at Barlegi PRESIDENTIAL DEMONSTRATION Farm

In November 2025, Okere City achieved a major milestone in advancing regenerative agriculture and climate action across its farming communities. Two field visits were conducted on 19^th and 25^th November. A total of one hundred twenty eight farmers visited the Barlegi Presidential Demonstration Farm in Okwang Sub County, Otuke District for hands-on, practical learning. Both visits were facilitated by Mr. Jasper Okaka, the Assistant Farm Manager at Barlegi.

The field visits were organized under the Shea Carbon Insetting Project, implemented by Okere City and Forested, with support from Bansk Beauty. Together, these visits form part of a broader strategy to enroll and equip one hundred fifty farmers with regenerative agriculture skills that improve productivity, strengthen resilience and enable participation in carbon markets.

Two Groups, One Shared Goal

1. First Cohort - Okere Farmers (19 November 2025)

The first visit brought together sixty six farmers from the Okere Shea Cooperative Society out of the seventy five which is the project’s initial and already active group engaged in regenerative agriculture and carbon insetting.

2. Second Cohort - Olarokwon Farmers (25 November 2025)

To expand participation and reach the project’s target, the Olarokwon farmers group was newly recruited to add to the already existing shea cooperative farmers. Out of their seventy five registered members, sixty two farmers attended the second field visit. Their recruitment is a deliberate effort to broaden community involvement and strengthen the foundation for regenerative farming across Okere.

Together, the two cohorts make up one hundred fifty members, bringing Okere City and Forested to their target of one hundred fifty farmers under the shea carbon insetting initiative.

Strengthening Knowledge for Climate-Smart Agriculture

The challenges facing smallholder farmers in northern Uganda include; declining soil fertility, climate variability and limited access to practical knowledge. The above challenges necessitated a learning approach that is hands-on, contextual, and farmer-led.

Across both field visits, the learning objectives were centered on:

• Understanding the principles of regenerative and climate-smart agriculture.

• Learning practices that restore soil health and improve long-term resilience.

• Preparing farmers to produce verified carbon impact units.

• Encouraging enterprise diversification for more stable income.

• Demonstration-based learning that showcases what works in real farm settings

These field visits help farmers move beyond traditional subsistence farming towards a future of sustainable production and climate-responsive decision-making.

A Proven Learning Hub

At Barlegi Presidential Demonstration Farm, farmers were welcomed with an introduction to the farm’s history and mandate under the presidential initiative for wealth creation. The farm operates as a center of excellence - an open classroom where smallholders learn through real, replicable models.

A highlight for both groups was the 4-acre model, an approach that illustrates how farmers can:

• Secure household food supply

• Generate diverse and predictable income streams

• Use land more efficiently

• Integrate perennial crops with short-term enterprises

Farmers were encouraged to assess how aspects of this model could be integrated into their farms in alignment with regenerative agriculture and carbon insetting objectives.

A Call to Learn, Collaborate, and Lead

Mr. Okaka encouraged the farmers from both groups to engage actively, ask questions, and consider how the demonstrated practices could be tailored to their own farms. He emphasized that Barlegi exists to share practical, locally relevant knowledge.

Addressing farmers during the visit, Mr. Ojok Okello, Chief Executive Officer, Okere City, commended them for embracing innovation and joining the Carbon Insetting Project. He stressed that the initiative:

• Positions farmers as key contributors to global climate solutions

• Strengthens community resilience

• Enables farmers to earn from carbon credits

• Helps restore the environment while improving livelihoods

He assured farmers of continued training, mentorship, and technical support.

Learning Across Farm Enterprises

Farmers toured various enterprises at Barlegi, including:

• Coffee

• Bananas

• Mangoes & citrus

• Pineapples

• Vegetables

From each enterprise, they learnt:

• Profitability potential

• Production challenges and prevention strategies

• How good agronomic practices support soil regeneration

• How to balance long-term and short-term income crops

• Alignment of enterprise choices with carbon insetting goals

These interactive sessions bridged the gap between theory and practice, enabling farmers to visualize how regenerative agriculture fits within their everyday realities.

Key Takeaways from Both Visits

Farmers reflected on valuable lessons, including:

• The power of integrated and diversified farming systems

• Healthy soils as the foundation of resilient agriculture

• How regenerative farming directly contributes to carbon impact units

• Strength of learning and working within organized groups

• The opportunity to earn through climate-positive agriculture

Voices from the Community

Representing the Okere farmers, Mr. Francis Olwit expressed deep appreciation to Okere City and Barlegi for creating a learning opportunity that links farming improvements to new income streams and environmental action.

Meanwhile, on behalf of the Olarokwon farmers, Mr. David Onap also thanked Okere city for the initiative and encouraged the farmers to implement the knowledge acquired for clean, sustainable agriculture.

Responding to the farmers, Mr. Ojok reaffirmed Okere City’s commitment to ongoing support, farmer follow-up, and expansion of the shea carbon insetting project.

Closing each event, Mr. Okaka encouraged farmers to remain committed to regenerative practices that offer both economic and environmental rewards.

Looking Ahead: A Climate-Smart Future for Okere

The two field visits demonstrated how regenerative agriculture can uplift livelihoods, restore soils, and position farmers as key actors in climate mitigation.

With seventy five initial members, and the Olarokwon farmers now joining the already established Shea Cooperative farmers, Okere City and Forested are on track with the full target of one hundred fifty farmers under the shea carbon insetting project.

As the initiative continues to expand, field visits like these will remain essential - transforming farms into spaces of learning, empowerment, innovation, and opportunity.

Okere City remains committed to building a future where farmers lead the way in climate-smart transformation and community resilience.