In a significant move to address chronic food insecurity in Uganda’s Karamoja sub-region, walking tractors have been distributed to smallholder farmer groups as part of an initiative to promote agricultural mechanization and strengthen food systems. The support comes under a broader strategy to drive sustainable agriculture and value chain development in one of Uganda’s most vulnerable regions.
The tractors are part of the “Fostering Sustainability and Resilience for Food Security in the Karamoja Sub-region” (F-SURE) project, which targets six districts—Karenga, Kaabong, Kotido, Moroto, Nabilatuk, and Nakapiripirit. The project has reached over 12,000 farming households, aiming to improve agricultural productivity and household resilience to food shocks.
Mechanization is being prioritized as a transformative solution for agriculture in the region. Walking tractors, which are more efficient than traditional tools such as hand hoes, allow farmers to cultivate larger plots of land in a shorter time. This not only reduces physical strain but also ensures timely planting and harvesting, which are crucial for increasing yields.
Mechanized farming is seen as essential for achieving Uganda’s long-term agricultural goals, particularly as the country pursues agro-industrialization. Traditional farming methods, heavily dependent on human labor and animal traction, are proving insufficient to meet the growing demand for food and the need for a more commercially viable agricultural sector.
The distribution of the walking tractors forms part of a broader mechanization strategy centered around three key pillars: commercial sustainability, environmental sustainability, and socioeconomic sustainability. These pillars ensure that the mechanization process is inclusive, climate-smart, and economically viable in the long run.
The project has also introduced supportive policies at the district level to facilitate improved crop and livestock production and foster integrated natural resource management. By aligning local governance with national agricultural goals, the initiative is helping to create a more enabling environment for rural development and food security.
Importantly, the initiative includes a comprehensive training program for the beneficiary farmer groups. Farmers have been taught how to operate and maintain the walking tractors, ensuring the equipment is used effectively and sustainably. The training also focuses on building a business mindset among farmers, encouraging them to manage the equipment as a community asset with shared responsibility for maintenance and productivity.
Beyond the six core districts, other areas including Abim, Amudat, and Napak will also receive walking tractors and tricycles to support land preparation and other stages of agricultural production. Each sub-county is set to receive five single-axle tractors and five tricycles, further expanding the reach of the program.
The F-SURE project, which began in 2017 and was originally scheduled to end in 2022, has been extended to May 2025 to allow for continued implementation and consolidation of gains. It is part of the broader Food-IAP (Integrated Approach for Food Security in Sub-Saharan Africa) under the Global Environment Facility (GEF), which seeks to integrate ecosystem management with agricultural development across Africa.
As Karamoja grapples with food insecurity fueled by environmental degradation and climate change, this mechanization initiative offers a new path forward—one rooted in innovation, resilience, and sustainable agricultural transformation.
