Realigning Farmer Strategic Goals and Closing the Gap on Cocoa Export for Uganda

Swiss contact with funding from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) is implementing the “Dynamic Markets for farmers-sustainable cocoa and beekeeping in Uganda” project in 10 districts: in Uganda. The project seeks to increase household incomes of 8,000 smallholder cocoa farmers and 3,556 beekeepers, increase the investment and business performance of SMEs and farmer organizations in the two sectors. The project will address a set of closely linked constraints that include - low quality and volume of certified products to meet the prevailing market demand, weak entrepreneurial, business management and technical capacity of farmer organization and SMEs, low investment from the public and private sector players and food insecurity in the concentrated cocoa growing districts. 
In line with the project’s mandate: Belli Advisory was contracted to provide business development support services to Semuliki Cooperative Union (SEMCU), a farmer organization in the cocoa value chain, to improve their capacity, business operations and performance. Semuliki Cooperative Union is a legally registered farmer organization based in Bundibugyo district, whose operations span to Kabarole and Ntoroko districts as well. The Union was developed from the former Bundibugyo Cocoa Association, established in 2010 with a mandate of improving livelihoods for its community members. The core services the Union extends to its members include access to markets and market information, access to extension and advisory services through farmer business schools and family farming programs, access to finance and financial services, lobbying and Advocacy.