Climate-Smart Agriculture: Growing with the Climate

At Raising Gabdho Foundation (RGF), Climate-Smart Agriculture is a core pathway through which we strengthen food security, restore the environment, and build climate-resilient livelihoods for refugee and host communities across Uganda.

We design integrated farming and livelihood systems that help households grow nutritious food, generate sustainable income, and adapt to climate change — even in land-constrained and fragile settings such as refugee settlements.

Our approach goes beyond individual farming activities. We build complete, circular and climate-resilient systems that connect crop production, livestock, soil regeneration, water management, market access, and community learning.

Climate-Resilient Crop Production & Nutrition Security

RGF supports farmers to adopt climate-smart horticulture and staple crop systems that improve household food availability while generating market income.

This includes:

* Climate-resilient vegetables, grains, and legumes

 • Demonstration plots and Farmer Field Schools (FFS) for hands-on learning

 • Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

 • Soil fertility improvement using compost, organic inputs, and biochar

 • Water-efficient farming practices and small-scale irrigation planning

These systems improve yields, strengthen nutrition, and increase household resilience to climate shocks.

Integrated Livestock & Circular Bioeconomy Systems

Small livestock enterprises are embedded within RGF’s farming models to provide food, income, and soil nutrients.

We support:

* Poultry, rabbits, goats, and other small livestock

 • Black Soldier Fly (BSF) production for affordable animal feed

 • Manure recovery and nutrient recycling for soil regeneration

 • Fodder and hay production for dry-season resilience

This circular approach reduces waste, lowers production costs, and strengthens farm productivity.

Regenerative Soil Health & Sustainable Land Management

Healthy soils are the foundation of climate-smart agriculture.

RGF promotes regenerative practices that restore degraded land and increase productivity, including:

* Biochar production from agricultural residues

 • Composting and organic soil amendments

 • Erosion control and moisture conservation

 • Agroforestry and integrated land management

These practices rebuild soil fertility, improve water retention, and enhance long-term climate resilience.

Agroforestry, Afforestation & Nature-Based Solutions

Trees are integrated as productive assets across our farming systems.

Our work includes:

* Farm-level agroforestry combining trees with crops and livestock

 • Community afforestation and landscape restoration

 • Tree nurseries and seedling supply systems

 • Biodiversity protection and micro-climate regulation

These nature-based solutions strengthen ecosystems while creating long-term livelihood benefits.

Market Access, Agribusiness & Youth Livelihoods

To move beyond subsistence farming, RGF links producers to markets and enterprise opportunities.

We support:

* Farmer group formation and collective marketing

 • Produce aggregation and value addition

 • Business and financial skills development

 • Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs)

 • Youth and women-led agribusiness enterprises

This creates green jobs, strengthens incomes, and builds resilient local food economies.

Community-Led, Inclusive & Climate-Resilient Systems

RGF works at the humanitarian-development-environment nexus, ensuring that refugees and host communities learn, farm, and grow together.

Our programs prioritize:

* Social cohesion and shared resource use

 • Conflict-sensitive land access and block farming models

 • Environmental and social safeguards

 • Continuous learning and local leadership

All interventions are designed to be scalable, community-owned, and aligned with government systems and donor standards.