The NGO Development in Gardening, partnered with the Batwa, an Indigenous community in Uganda facing severe marginalization, land loss and chronic food insecurity, to co-design a Farmer Field School approach that links nutrition, livelihoods and cultural identity.

Initially, FFS focused on conventional vegetable production. However, community feedback—particularly from elders—revealed a strong loss of access to traditional forest foods, which were key to their diets and nutrition. In response, the programme was redesigned to place indigenous food systems at its core.

Through innovative “Forest Discovery Walks”, Batwa elders guided FFS participants to identify and collect wild seedlings. These were then tested and domesticated in FFS demonstration plots, leading to the successful cultivation of 26 indigenous, nutrient-rich foods, including dark leafy greens with high nutritional value.

The project also invested in:

• Intergenerational knowledge transfer, with elders training youth on traditional foods and practices
• Behaviour change and nutrition education, through cooking demonstrations, radio programmes and community outreach
• Market integration, increasing demand for indigenous foods beyond the Batwa community

This integrated approach delivered strong, measurable results:

• Significant improvement in nutrition knowledge (89% of farmers, up from 23%)
• Dramatic reduction in household food insecurity and expenditure on fruits and vegetables
• Widespread adoption of diverse home gardens, including 12 indigenous foods now regularly produced and sold
• Enhanced social inclusion, with Batwa farmers becoming valued suppliers and knowledge holders in local markets
  

This experience highlights the potential of FFS as a scalable approach to restore resilient, nutrition-sensitive food systems while empowering marginalized communities.