Riding high: tomato-funded motorbike drives farmers’ success

Tomatoes grown by the Can-Okella farmers’ group in the Abim district of Karamoja in northeastern Uganda are now being whizzed to market in jerry cans strapped to a shiny red motorbike.

Until recently, the purchase of a used motorcycle would have been unaffordable for the 15 young farmers (eight women and seven men) who make up the group. But following making a remarkable 1,600% return on investment on their first tomato harvest, the group were able to invest in the bike.

The motorbike reduces transportation costs and improves their access to markets, making their budding tomato business viable.

It’s a smart investment in this remote region, where it’s a considerable distance to the nearest market, and there are few employment opportunities for young people.

With transport to markets now sorted, the group’s aim to become the leading supplier of tomatoes in Abim District is within sight.

The Can-Okella farmers’ group harvesting tomatoes.

The group’s transition from subsistence farming to commercial horticulture has been supported by Farm Africa and CARE International’s CASCADE project, funded by the Dutch Government.

With the aim of boosting the availability and consumption of nutritious food while enhancing the nutritional resilience of households, CASCADE follows a learning-centred approach as a practical method for knowledge sharing at Farmer Field and Business Schools (FFBS).

Originally established in 2020 as a savings group, after joining the CASCADE project in 2023 the group established a field learning site where they received comprehensive training in nursery bed management, vegetable production, balanced diets and collaborative decision-making. They also established valuable connections with local agro-input dealers.

Before the CASCADE project’s intervention, the group faced the persistent challenges that plague many smallholder farming communities across the Karamoja region.

The group struggled with limited knowledge of modern farming techniques, relying primarily on traditional subsistence farming methods that yielded minimal returns. Access to quality seeds and agricultural inputs remained a significant barrier, with members often travelling long distances to unreliable suppliers or settling for substandard materials that compromised their harvests.

The group used their designated learning site for their first cycle of vegetable production. After mastering vegetable cultivation techniques, the group strategically transitioned to commercial tomato farming in the first season of 2025.

In March 2025, the group pooled their resources and invested UGX 210,000 (USD 58.7) to purchase 150 grams of tomato seeds from a nearby agro-input dealer at the weekly market in Orwamuge. They planted the tomatoes in a staggered manner to ensure continuous harvests throughout the season.

By June 2025, harvesting commenced from their half-acre production plot. The group sold their tomatoes daily to community members and at four nearby weekly markets on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

By the end of June, they had generated total sales revenue of UGX 3,580,000 from their half-acre tomato plot, representing the remarkable return which enabled them to invest in the motorbike.

Harvesting continues from the original half-acre plot while the group expands their garden.

Inspired by CASCADE’s emphasis on dry season production, they have committed to year-round tomato supply, ensuring consistent income generation throughout the seasons. The remaining profits are deposited into their group savings account, which provides a revolving loan fund for members.

Each of the 15 members also maintains individual kitchen gardens at their households, cultivating diverse crops including aubergines, green vegetables such as cowpea leaves and sukuma-wiki, and various other traditional vegetables for consumption and local sales.

Every Saturday, designated as their savings day, the group harvests 20kg of tomatoes to share among members.

CBFs and AOs interacting with members of the Can-Okella group during a climate-smart agriculture learning session.

The Can-Okella group’s vegetable plot has evolved into a demonstration site, hosting the project’s Community-Based Facilitators (CBFs) from across Abim, as well as the neighbouring Kotido district, along with Agricultural Officers from  Abim, during refresher training in Climate Smart Agriculture.

Looking ahead, the Can-Okella group is actively exploring expanded market opportunities including potential contracts with local schools, restaurants and hotels to establish more stable, higher volume sales channels.

Their journey serves as a powerful model for farming communities across Uganda, proving that smallholder farmers can transition from subsistence to profitable commercial ventures through proper training and collective action. Their success demonstrates that sustainable agricultural transformation creates lasting positive change for rural livelihoods.