By Ezra Kalule – Programme Officer, Information, Communication & KHEA
For Diana Annet Nanono, agriculture is more than a profession – it is a lifelong passion rooted in her family’s farming heritage. Growing up in a household where coffee and banana farming paid school fees and sustained livelihoods, Diana developed a deep appreciation for agriculture at an early age.
Determined to pursue her passion, she studied Biological Sciences at Advanced Level before enrolling for a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Mechanization and Irrigation Engineering, graduating in 2014. However, like many young graduates, securing formal employment proved challenging. Rather than giving up, Diana chose to create opportunities for herself.
Drawing on her expertise in irrigation engineering, she began supporting farmers through irrigation system installation, water harvesting initiatives, and climate-smart agriculture projects. Over the years, she worked with various development programs, training farmers across Uganda on sustainable agricultural practices and water management.
As she travelled throughout the country, one challenge repeatedly stood out: farmers were suffering significant losses due to pests, diseases, and post-harvest spoilage. Equally concerning was the increasing dependence on synthetic agrochemicals.
“I would visit farms and find farmers heavily relying on chemicals. The smell of chemicals was everywhere. Deep inside, I felt there had to be a safer and more sustainable way of producing food,” Diana recalls.
Her perspective began to change after participating in agroecology and climate resilience workshops where she learned about ecological farming practices. For the first time, she encountered the possibility of growing crops successfully with minimal or no synthetic chemicals. The concept resonated deeply with her vision for agriculture.
A turning point came in June 2022 when Diana was selected to participate in the Knowledge Hub for Organic Agriculture and Agroecology (KHEA) multiplier training hosted by St. Jude Family Projects under the coordination of PELUM Uganda.
The practical training exposed her to a range of agroecological innovations, including biochar production, vermiculture, composting, Bokashi manure, botanical pesticides, and biological crop protection methods. While many of the technologies could easily be adopted by farmers, Diana identified a gap in the production of organic fungicides.
“I realized that while farmers could prepare many organic inputs themselves, producing effective fungicides required precision in measurements, formulations, and handling. I saw both a challenge and an opportunity.”
Inspired by the training, Diana began exploring how to develop an organic fungicide that could help farmers manage fungal diseases while reducing dependence on synthetic products.
Soon after, she joined an entrepreneurship incubation programme organized by Rotico Ventures Uganda. During the programme, she met like-minded innovators who shared her passion for reducing losses in fruit and vegetable production. Together, they formed a team and embarked on a journey of research and product development.
What began as a simple idea evolved into a rigorous innovation process. The team partnered with biochemists, conducted laboratory trials, tested various plant-based extracts including neem, ginger, and lemongrass, and continuously refined their formulations. Through partnerships with research institutions and support from innovation grants, they improved extraction methods, increased product stability, and enhanced effectiveness.
Today, Diana serves as Director and Co-founder of Raj Garden Fresh, a company dedicated to producing organic agricultural inputs. Their flagship product is a plant-based organic fungicide developed to help farmers manage fungal diseases safely and sustainably.
The product has undergone extensive field testing with farmers and has demonstrated promising results against several fungal diseases affecting fruits and vegetables. The team is currently working towards wider farmer validation, product certification, and compliance with national quality standards.
One of the biggest lessons Diana has learned is the importance of farmer engagement throughout the innovation process.
“We innovate with farmers, not for farmers. Their feedback helps us improve our products. When farmers invest even a small amount to test a product, they attach value to it and provide honest feedback that strengthens the innovation.”
Beyond developing a product, Diana continues to champion agroecology, farmer education, and sustainable food systems. Her journey demonstrates how capacity building under the KHEA programme can inspire entrepreneurship, drive innovation, and create practical solutions to challenges faced by farming communities.
From a young irrigation engineer searching for opportunities to an agroecological entrepreneur developing organic solutions for farmers, Diana’s story is a powerful example of how knowledge, passion, and persistence can transform challenges into opportunities for sustainable agricultural development.
Quote
“The KHEA multiplier training did not only equip me with agroecological knowledge; it transformed the way I see agriculture. It inspired me to turn a farmer’s challenge into an innovation that promotes healthier crops, safer food systems, and sustainable livelihoods.” — Diana Annet Nanono
