For many households in northern Uganda, a radio remains a source of news and entertainment. But for Stella Aciro, a farmer in Lamwo District, it has become a powerful tool for transforming her livelihood. Every Tuesday and Friday, Aciro tunes in to Tembo FM to listen to the Farmer’s Voice Radio programme, which she describes as an important appointment. As deputy chairperson and women’s representative of the Mar-Lonyo Group, she mobilises family and neighbours to listen and apply the lessons. Before discovering the programme, Aciro relied on traditional methods that limited productivity. Crops were planted without proper spacing, leading to poor growth and low yields. Through the radio lessons, she learned proper spacing, row planting, and better crop management, transforming her garden into an organised and productive farm. A major turning point came when the programme introduced her to value addition. Previously, she sold raw groundnuts immediately after harvest when prices were low. After learning to grind them into paste, she earned more from the same produce—making over Shs1 million in net profit in a single season. The additional income improved her family’s food security, medical care, and school fees. Aciro also embraced financial literacy, saving through formal institutions, and diversified into coffee farming as a long-term cash crop. Beyond income, she says the knowledge strengthened women’s participation in household decision-making. ‘Women now take part in decision making because they get knowledge on different things like sustainable land management,’ she said. Inspired by collective action, the Mar-Lonyo Group is shifting towards collective farming and bulk marketing to reduce dependence on middlemen. Aciro has also planted 3,465 trees, including indigenous species, for environmental conservation and future income.
Article source: allafrica.com | Image credit: x.com
