their idea: promote sustainable agriculture in
Masaka, Uganda
$50 Trains one farmer on how to efficiently grow food
$120 Builds 3 beehives for one farmer to grow honey
$250 Buys 4 goats for one farmer to have lasting fertilizer
$2,000 Buys a grain mill for 3,000 farmers
$4,000 Builds a well for a community of farmers to irrigate their crops
the power of their idea
Project Details
The agricultural sector is central to Uganda's economy and food security. It provides employment to 85% of the population, accounts for 40% of GDP, and generates 85% of export earnings. Economic growth in the region is largely dependent on rain-fed agriculture, making it vulnerable to adverse weather conditions and declining international commodity prices. Over the past decade, the area's two rainy seasons have altered dramatically, becoming less predictable and much drier. Lack of resources and proper water management practices, as well as inadequate support and training in the agricultural sector are further eroding economic growth and deepening poverty. Consequently, the number of people living on less than one dollar a day remains above 10 million.
Since 2005, GO has partnered with The Uganda Rural Community Support Foundation, URCSF, in Masaka, Uganda to leverage local skill sets by training subsistence farmers in traditional and sustainable farming methods at a model farming cooperative. The model farm is used both as a training center and a community center for all program participants.
The project's primary aim is to bring about food security in the region,
using an integrated approach with the following primary areas of focus:
- Water management and harvesting
- Appropriate use of treated wastewater
- Land use and soil management best practices
- Crop diversification
- Sanitation and hygiene training and promotion
- Seed sharing
- Animal husbandry
- Creating viable market potential
- Improved access to public sanitation and health facilities
GO and URCSF believe that sustainable farming and food security are integral to human health. The project areas, in combination, produce self-managing farmers' groups who are able to practice organic farming for income, while curbing environmental degradation, advancing economic growth, and enhancing food security for the more vulnerable individuals in the community such as women, children and those living with HIV/AIDS.
the impact of our support
Hajj's Story
Meet Hajj, one of the 3,000 farmers who received training at our model farm. Hajj started his maize farm with a 10 kilogram bag of maize (corn) seeds and training from the farm. This 10kg bag of seed cost just $1 and was given as a loan to Hajj to start his new agricultural business after completing the trainings. Hajj planted his first cycle of maize with knowledge learned at the farm about two years ago. His first harvest netted him with 700Kg of maize. His second netted him 4,000Kg. With the good rainfall this year, he will probably net 10,000Kg of maize that he will mill and sell for a hefty profit. Given the size of the harvest, Hajj will employ over a dozen employees this year to help him reap, sheath, and mill his product, providing economic opportunities for not only himself, but also his community.
Hajj is no longer anxious about providing for his family, having now risen up to the blessed world of middle class worries of affordable University education for his children and how to expand his business. Hajj is a living example about how food security really can change everything.