The Agricultural Value Chain Improvement for Sustainable Household Income Enhancement Project is a cassava-centered rural development initiative implemented in Kumi District, Eastern Uganda, with the support of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and Korea Food for the Hungry International (KFHI).

Cassava plays a vital role in local food security and rural livelihoods, yet smallholder farmers continue to face challenges such as low productivity, post-harvest losses, and limited access to reliable markets. This project addresses these challenges by strengthening the entire cassava value chain—from production and processing to marketing and institutional coordination.

At the core of the project is the development of an integrated cassava processing system. Through the establishment and operation of a cassava processing facility, farmers are able to process fresh roots into higher-value products such as dried cassava chips and flour. This enables farmers to reduce post-harvest losses, improve product quality, and access more stable and profitable markets.

The project works closely with ten Rural Producer Organizations (RPOs) under the Kumi Area Cooperative Enterprise (KACE), strengthening farmer organizations and collective action across the value chain. Through capacity building, technical training, and organizational support, farmers improve production practices, quality control, and coordinated marketing, ensuring consistency and reliability in supply.

By linking smallholder farmers to structured markets and supporting local processing and aggregation, the project moves beyond subsistence farming toward a more resilient and market-oriented rural economy. Through strong collaboration with local government and community stakeholders, the initiative contributes to sustainable livelihoods, value addition, and long-term economic resilience in Kumi District.