Jimmy Bagonza – General Manager, RFCU

“We have been assisted in developing cash flow projections before accessing finance by the ADC. We are able to accurately value and request for actual amounts required to finance our contracts. For example, we have accessed financing from Rabo Foundation twice now. We were able to prepare cash flows that were approved as a result of the training.”

Alfred Masereka – Kisagazi ACE

“The training in PRM enlightened us in the need to have formal contracts in place with all understanding of contractual terms. We have managed to secure contracts with a few entities to supply up to 160 metric tons of coffee”

SOMA can change lives

Apio Angella Josephine – Avocado Farmer, Buikwe

With SOMA, Now I know that savings come first, then you invest them and after that you can track your income”

Jimmy Kalinda – C/P Lugala Ssi

“The quality of our produce has improved; farmers no longer dry coffee on the ground. Buyers used to give us lower prices because of dirty produce. Now we understand the value of producing the highest quality to attract the highest price. As a result, we have been able to sell at UGX 7000 from 4,500 to buyers, who pay us an additional Quality bonus.”

SOMA can change lives

Kato Patrick – Dairy Farmer, Bushenyi

“SOMA is bridging the knowledge gap between what is being done to what should be done in Agriculture to achieve productivity on the farm”

Jimmy Bagonza – General Manager, RFCU

“60% of our Farmers are now Certified FTO for Coffee/Cocoa and Vanilla, some are organic certified under a different partner. The Challenge is the acquisition of market for the certified products and the cost of certification (Approximately UGX18-19M), annually which is a challenge in the absence of a market”

Misusing money

Nalugotti Cissy – Farmer

“The Simu+ has not only helped me as a person but also my business. I am right now encouraging other people to finish the training so that they know how to do bookkeeping and avoid misusing money”

Our portfolio has grown to Shs. 5 Billion

Janet Kyasimire – Kigarama People’s Cooperative Saving & Credit Society

“We have seen our growth through the training’s ADC has been giving us. We started working with Raba Foundation 5-year back with our first loan of 250 million which increased our net income and mobilized more members however most of the members we serve are illiterate about finance so we needed ADC to train the farmers we work with so that they are able to pay back their loans but most importantly for the farmers to be able to expand their businesses.

“We recently got another loan from Rabobank foundation as a SACCO of 1 billion which has lifted our portfolio to five billion and our members are now financial literate. Robert Mugabi is one of our members who has received agriculture loans over ten times from our SACCO and also getting training form ADC”

SOMA can change lives

Musinguzi Marion – Apple Farmer, Kanungu

“I got to know SOMA from my mother who sent me a link via Facebook. All the processes of registering and learning were seamless and I think it will change the lives of my village farmers since most of them are still illiterate.”

I now get Ugx 6million per month

Robert Mugabe – Kigarama People’s Cooperative Saving & Credit Society

“I first got Ugx. 10million then Ugx. 25million. I pay monthly on a 2.7 % interest in reducing balance. I keep my records and keenly follow my loan repayment and I also know how much I have put in my farm just like I was taught by ADC, so it is easier for me to repay the loan.

I have never defaulted my loan, I pay promptly. I recently applied for Ugx. 30million to develop a new plantation and a tree plantation so that the trees can help me to deal with hailstorm and the like. When the banana is at its peak, I get 6 million per month, for example this month I harvested thrice because it is the season.”