This abstract highlights the transformative journey of Lakshmi Devi, a farmer-turned-entrepreneur in Nandgaon, Uttarakhand, facilitated by the Mount Valley Development Association (MVDA). It emphasizes the impact of MVDA’s Farming Innovation for Women Empowerment (FIWE) project in rural development.

Through qualitative analysis, the narrative demonstrates how MVDA’s initiatives, such as women's groups, skill development, and access to government schemes like ATMA, empowered Lakshmi Devi, enabling her transition from a landless farmer to a successful entrepreneur.

As urbanization progresses, accessing nutritious and healthy foods has become challenging for households and communities due to the complex nature of food systems and poverty. The Urban Food Hives Initiative (UFH) in Uganda aims to build resilient, nutritious, equitable, and regenerative food systems in Kampala, with a focus on the voices and leadership of women and youth. Currently, most small-scale, informal actors in Ugandan food systems, including farmers, informal vendors and distributors, do not receive fair economic returns.

The Newsletter of the Tropical Agriculture Platform (TAP) provides regular updates on activities by TAP and its partners, on the projects and on upcoming events. This issue specifically refers to the period from May 2025 to September 2025.