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On 11th June 2025, the Agricultural Policy Research Centre (APRC) at Makerere University, ANAPRI’s member institute in Uganda recently co-hosted a high-level dissemination workshop in collaboration with the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO). Held at the Africana Hotel in Kampala, the event focused on the theme “Long-Term Changes in Uganda’s Soil Health Conditions and Women’s Responses to Land Degradation.”
The workshop attracted over 80 participants, including representatives from government ministries, research institutions, civil society organisations, and development partners. It was a timely contribution to the implementation of the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Action Plan (AFSH-AP) 2024–2034, placing a much-needed spotlight on the gendered dimensions of soil health.
In her keynote address, Dr Claudia Ringler, Director of the Natural Resources and Resilience Unit at IFPRI, called on all stakeholders to embed gender equity into soil health strategies. “We cannot solve Africa’s soil crisis without addressing the needs, constraints, and contributions of women. Gender must be central to the domestication of the AFSH-AP,” she urged.
Representing APRC, Dr Florence Lwiza shared progress on localising the AFSH-AP within Uganda. She outlined the national consultations held and priority action areas identified, aligned with continental goals. Dr Lwiza also unveiled the forthcoming “Farmer Know Your Soil–Uganda” (FKYS-U) campaign, a flagship initiative aimed at increasing soil literacy among farmers through mobile testing, community engagement, and strategic partnerships.
“The FKYS campaign will bring research closer to the farmer and highlight the remarkable work being done by our national institutions,” Dr Lwiza noted. Designed to close knowledge gaps and empower both farmers and institutions, the campaign places soil health at the heart of inclusive, climate-resilient agricultural transformation. With digital tools, tailored extension services, and advocacy, FKYS offers a practical route to restoring degraded soils, improving input efficiency, and unlocking the potential of Africa’s smallholders.
Dr Lwiza called on NGOs, local governments, private sector actors, and research bodies to contribute technologies, training, and outreach support to the campaign and the broader implementation of AFSH-AP.
The workshop reinforced the urgent need for more gender-sensitive, multidisciplinary, and collaborative research to inform Uganda’s soil health policies. Participants emphasised the importance of robust data on land degradation, context-specific soil management practices, and incentive structures that empower both women and men farmers to steward their land effectively.