The Model

The reFarm Model

Four pillars, one vision

reFARM: What We Do and Why It Matters

Uganda's agriculture is trapped in low productivity, climate vulnerability and resource waste. We asked a different question: what if a business could solve these while making money? Our integrated model — dairy, agronomy, agroforestry and community extension — maps to the IFC's 2026 Framework for Regenerative Agriculture and its three pillars: Resilience of farmer livelihoods, Restoration of natural resources, and Reduction of GHG emissions.

On the ground, our Ayrshire herd and manure management close the nutrient loop with our crops; intercropping, cover practices and minimal tillage rebuild the soil; our Luuka trees programme sequesters carbon; and the Asaba Skilling and Farmers Point systems carry these practices to smallholder farmers. It proves regeneration is commercially viable — better yields, lower input costs, stronger market access — and profitable to do in Busoga.

"Regenerative agriculture is not charity. At AFS, it is our business model — and it works."
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Pillar 1

Asaba Dairy (AD)

"Because cows should thrive, not just survive"
AFS Ayrshire cattle

Climate-adapted Ayrshire cattle breeding. Foundation stock registered in KLBO Studbook. Hardy, heat-tolerant genetics for tropical Uganda. Premium dairy products including locally-produced yogurt. AI breeding services for the region.

The dairy is where the cycle begins — animal waste feeds the biogas plant, which generates energy and organic slurry for crops.

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Pillar 2

Asaba Agro (AA)

"Showing, not just telling"

Climate-Smart Agriculture demonstration unit. Research and validation of sustainable techniques. Key crops: maize, beans, soybeans, sweet potatoes. Organic fertiliser from Pillar 1 feeds the soil here.

Crop residues cycle back as animal feed and compost — completing the loop.

AFS mulched farmland - regenerative soil management
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Pillar 3

Asaba Skilling (AS)

"Knowledge that sticks"

Government-certified training hub (DiT Certificate UG92580A). Techno-vocational internships combining theory with practice. Short farm exposure visits. Skills that transfer from the farm to community implementation.

The training engine that scales AFS knowledge beyond Nakabugu.

AFS skilling session
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Pillar 4

Asaba Community Extension Service (AcES)

"Where farm innovation meets village transformation"
AFS Farmers Point extension session with the farming community

The integration pillar. AcES pioneers an innovative public-private extension service model through AFS Farmers Point hubs — bridging the gap between government extension services (largely absent) and private sector innovation.

Partnership facilitation between public and private sectors. Farmers Point hub network bringing services to the community level. Knowledge transfer coordination across all four pillars. Technology and innovation dissemination. Sustainable practice institutionalisation.

This is the answer to the extension gap Apollo identified in his "Retiring Into Farming" essay: farmers need support systems, not just land and seeds.