Expansion of oil palm production in Uganda has certainly brought economic benefits. But these have been inequitably distributed and have been accompanied by negative environmental and social impacts. This brief proposes different options that allow farmers to overcome some of these impacts by mixing oil palm with other crops that can increase smallholder incomes, resilience and biodiversity. It summarizes international experiences supported by surveys that show that Ugandan farmers are already experimenting with and adopting intercropping, and based on findings and lessons learned, offers specific recommendations for the government, private sector, extensionists, and farmer associations. 

The expansion of oil palm in Uganda has undoubtedly brought economic benefits including jobs and import substitution among others, but these have been accompanied by negative social and environmental impacts. This brief is the latest in a series that has investigated these impacts, but is the first to propose new models of intercropping for Uganda. International experience shows that growing food or cash crops with oil palm in agroforestry systems can increase smallholder incomes, resilience and biodiversity and surveys show that farmers in Uganda are already experimenting and are ready to adopt intercropping on a wider scale.