Joy and Hope as Gordon’s Agricultural Organization-Uganda(GAO-UG) Limited Empowers Farmers in Lango Sub-Region - THE LUO NATIVES

ALEBTONG, UGANDA; Lango Sub-region came alive with excitement on Tuesday as Gordon's Agricultural Organisation-Uganda (GAO-UG) Limited—a youth-led agricultural enterprise—held a transformative farmer training session in Ocamoyang, Erute South, Lira District and Aloi Town Council ,Alebtong District . The event attracted hundreds of participants, including youth, women, PWDs, community leaders, and government officials.

GAO-UG Limited is championing modern farming practices through its flagship project titled "Leveraging Technology for Enhanced Access to Agricultural Products and Services for Youth-Driven Agricultural Productivity and Profitability in the Lango Sub-Region." 

With youth unemployment and poverty prevalent in the area, the organization is providing a sustainable path forward through innovative agriculture.

The event featured several key activities, including: Community Screening by GO TROLLY from South Africa, Demonstrations of Modern Farming Techniques, Testimonies from Progressive Farmers, Access to Certified Agricultural Products and Services.

Susan Adongo, Co-founder of GAO-UG Limited, urged young people to see agriculture as a path to prosperity, encouraging them to make productive use of their land rather than seeking unpromising opportunities in urban areas.

“Instead of wasting time in towns, let’s turn our land into a source of livelihood,” she said. “When we founded GAO-UG Limited in 2020, our mission was to combat youth unemployment and poverty through modern agriculture.”

Gordon Victor Akejo, the Chief Executive Director, echoed this message, urging youth to become agents of change within their communities. He called on them to join the Community Agricultural Promoters (CAPs) model, which ensures last-mile delivery of agricultural resources.

GAO-UG currently provides:

• Affordable and Certified Inputs: Seeds, agrochemicals, and fertilizers

• Agricultural Advisory services through Community Agricultural promoters and Digital Connectors

• Irrigation Solutions: Including water access for dry-season farming

• Financial Access: Tailored credit services for farmers

• Market Linkages:

 Connections with both local and international buyers

To date, the organization has trained over 50 Community Agricultural Promoters (CAPs) who are actively involved in: Offering extension services, Distributing quality seeds, and Educating farmers on how to avoid counterfeit agricultural products

Susan Adongo—an alumna of the RUFORUM-Mastercard Foundation scholarship—shared the challenges they’ve encountered, especially around changing the mindset of youth and the widespread issue of counterfeit seeds.

“Many farmers gave up after buying seeds that failed to germinate,” she explained. “Now, our experts help investigate germination failures and offer timely solutions to prevent losses.”

This week, GAO-UG Limited hosted a delegation from South Africa, sent by the Mastercard Foundation, for a community screening event. During the visit, farmers shared testimonies and watched documentaries highlighting how agriculture has transformed the lives of young farmers in the region.

Looking a head, GAO-UG Limited plans to scale its efforts and reach even more youth across Northern Uganda, providing free training and affordable agricultural products and services that support sustainable practices.

The organization's impact is already visible. Dorcus Auma, a local farmer leader, praised GAO-UG Limited for its role in addressing agricultural challenges in the region.

“I used to waste money buying fake seeds,” she said. “Now, thanks to GAO-UG Limited, we access genuine seeds and trusted farming inputs.”

Oscar Opio, a CAP and project beneficiary, also lauded GAO-UG’s financial support, particularly its loan services that have empowered many farmers to overcome production challenges.

Currently, GAO-UG Limited is supported by international partners including the African Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (AFAAS) and the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM). The ongoing project targets over 10,000 young farmers in Alebtong and Lira Districts. So far, 3,678 farmers have been reached—70% of them women—and an increasing number of youth are now embracing agriculture as a viable livelihood.

Dr. Lucy Aciro, a Ph.D. student in Agrisystems from Italy and lecturer at the University of the Sacred Heart in Gulu, commended the Lango community for embracing GAO-UG's transformative vision.

For more information or to get involved with GAO-UG Limited, visit www.gao.co.ug or contact the office in Aloi Town Council, Alebtong District, Northern Uganda.

Call: +256 392 130169 / +256 392 002771