Chess Players Transformed into Farmers Through Chess for Agriculture Initiative
By Kyeyune Ali
More than 25 chess players from across Uganda have been equipped with practical agricultural skills under an innovative Chess for Agriculture initiative aimed at using the game to promote food production and improve livelihoods in communities.
The four-day residential training, which concluded today, brought together chess players from Uganda’s Central, Northern, Eastern and Western regions, with participants drawn from different religious backgrounds.
The programme, initiated by Robert Katende, CEO of SOM Chess Academy, in partnership with facilitators from Farm Inputs Promotions (FIPS) Africa Limited, a Kenya-based agricultural organisation, sought to bridge chess and agriculture by using the strategic thinking associated with the game to encourage better decision-making in farming.
Unlike conventional classroom-based programmes, the training focused heavily on practical agricultural skills, with participants introduced to approaches that can be applied directly in their respective communities.
The training covered climate-resilient agricultural technologies, poultry farming, improved varieties of vegetables and staple crops, as well as sustainable soil management practices.
Katende said the initiative is designed to help chess players translate the strategic thinking they use on the chessboard into practical decisions in agriculture.
“Think like a chess player, plan like a farmer for a better future in life,” Katende said.
He added that the academy would continue following up on the participants and their agricultural projects.
“We shall keep on monitoring them as we exchange ideas,” he added.
As part of the practical component, participants received small packs of improved seeds to establish model gardens in their respective regions as the planting season begins.
The gardens are expected to become demonstration sites where communities can observe, learn and adopt improved farming practices.
The initiative also sought to strengthen the connection between chess and community development. Every evening during the residential training, participants returned to the chessboards to play, learn and interact, while several chessboards were distributed to support the growth of the sport in the different regions.
Beyond training, the programme also put in place mechanisms for monitoring and data collection. Regional coordinators were provided with new motorcycles to help them reach communities, monitor the progress of the model gardens and offer continued support to participating farmers.
Facilitators from FIPS Africa Limited, Paulyene Masanja and Moses Opanga, emphasised the importance of strategic decision-making in agriculture, drawing parallels between farming and chess.
They noted that farmers, like chess players, must carefully consider their next move, from deciding when to plant to selecting the right varieties and breeds.
“Decision-making is very important to know when to plant. A variety of good breeds helps one to have the next move to outcompete our competitors in the community. Therefore, we call upon all people out there to engage in chess games,” they said.
The Chess for Agriculture initiative now moves into its implementation phase, with participants expected to establish model gardens and share the acquired knowledge with communities in their respective regions.
Organisers believe the programme can create a new generation of chess players who are not only skilled on the board but are also capable of using strategic thinking to improve agriculture and livelihoods.