TOMORROW VIJANA

Tomorrow Vijana in partnership with COHERE under the CFYE Project, conducted a comprehensive Post-Harvest Handling Training with farmer group leaders and community structures to improve maize quality, reduce losses, and increase income at household level. The session equipped participants with essential skills across the entire post-harvest chain, including: - Proper Harvesting Techniques : identifying the right maturity stage and reducing field losses. - Drying Practices :use of tarpaulins, raised drying platforms, and moisture control to prevent mould and aflatoxins. - Shelling & Threshing : safe and efficient methods that protect grain from damage. - Sorting & Cleaning : removing debris and damaged kernels to improve grain grade. - Storage Management :use of clean, airtight storage options, pest control measures, and regular inspection of stores. - Quality Standards & Grading : understanding market requirements and how quality affects pricing. - Safe Packaging & Transportation : using proper bags and handling to maintain grain quality up to the buyer. - Reducing Post-Harvest Losses : promoting good practices that can help farmers retain up to 30–40% more value. The training emphasized collective action, quality control, and linking farmers to reliable markets( off-taker like TURACO) ensuring that the hard work done in the garden translates into better income and a stronger maize value chain in Rwamwanja. During this session we had a privilege to invite opportunity bank manager to explain the services of the opportunity bank in Rwamwanja and how farmers can access loan to support the farming activities. Together, we are building skilled, informed, and market-ready farmers who can maximize the value of their produce from harvest to sale. Our next step is to engage community through community dialogue