26/03/2026
Recently, we handed over pre-finance tree seedlings to smallholder coffee farmers in Kalungu District in Central Uganda, working closely with our local partner, -Tukolerewamu Cooperative. This is part of the Carbon Finance pillar under our project. The goal is to help farmers integrate trees into their coffee farms in ways that restore soil health, increase yields, and store carbon.
For these farmers, is not an abstract debate discussed in conference rooms. It shows up in delayed rains, prolonged dry spells, shrinking harvests, and rising uncertainty about the next season. Many of them have watched their production decline despite working harder each year.
Agroforestry offers a practical response. By planting shade and companion trees alongside coffee, farmers protect their soils, regulate temperatures on their farms, and improve overall productivity. The trees also capture and store carbon, contributing to the broader fight against climate change. But beyond the environmental benefits, there is an economic dimension that matters just as much. Through carbon markets, farmers can earn income from the carbon their farms help remove from the atmosphere. Climate action, in this case, becomes an additional revenue stream.
Under our Carbon Finance model, the seedlings are provided upfront, removing the cost barrier that often prevents farmers from adopting long-term climate-smart practices. As the trees grow, so does the farmer’s resilience environmentally and financially.
This work is part of a much bigger ambition: to see 54,000 smallholder farmers across Uganda and Kenya move from being on the frontline of climate impacts to becoming active agents of change. It’s about restoring dignity, strengthening livelihoods, and proving that with the right support, smallholder farmers can lead the transition toward a more sustainable and equitable future.
