Farming differs all over the world. What is similar, is the need for farmers to have nutritious and affordable food security and grow crops free of pesticides. Training the local population to follow these principles of farming is what KIIMA Foods is doing in Kasese, Uganda. And they are doing it well!!

Since 1995 founder Francis Baita has worked tirelessly to create a culture of organic and pesticide free farming. With the interruption of a 4 year long civil war that began 1 year  after he founded KIIMA he has now built quite a thriving organization.  KIIMA Foods, NGO,  is a partner organization of FCDE, Foundation for Community Development and Empowerment. FCDE partners with KIIMA to build its capacity through workshops  and small grants.

Francis, his 6 staff and volunteers direct three main programs for farmers. These programs are a technical educational certificate program on Agriculture practices, a farmers co-op and a credit and loan program whereby farmers can save funds to purchase solar panels for homes.   Through the certificate program vocational school, young adult farmers are taught best practices of growing crops that have a high yield harvest. These young men find a purpose and drive as farmers.  With these high yield harvests Francis, further created a co-op for farmers to sell  their vegetables collectively to a distributor. Lastly, the savings and loan program allows farmers to sell vegetables to the community and to the co-op whereby they participate and save funds and are able to pool money and purchase solar lamps.

A recent for profit endeavor has been the establishment of a coffee bean pulping cleaning, and drying process. KIIMA coffee farmers now number over 2000. With at least 30kilos from each farmer KIIMA is poised to export their coffee and begin to change Uganda’s tea culture to a coffee culture.

In 2013 FCDE, through the isla program recruited and placed an intern with KIIMA Foods. Victoria was instrumental in helping educate farmers on agricultural farming and goat rearing income generation projects as well as a number of projects.

Are you interested in working for KIIMA foods and want to contribute to making a lasting impact with an organization in Uganda. You can apply for an internship and meet Francis and his farmers in Kasese this summer.

Young adult farmer in the field tending to crops.