A Life Changed, Uganda
A Life Changed, Uganda – Perepertwa Bukenya founded the Balirorraho farmers’ group in 2003, which worked with ACDI/VOCA, a non-profit organization that implemented a US food aid program reaching 180,000 people in poor, rural communities. Locally called “KYAWDA,” the program distributed commodities to support people living with HIV/AIDS and orphans and vulnerable children, and also increased agricultural development and marketing (click here to see the full program description and impact).
In 2003, Ms. Bukenya cultivated about ½ acre of land per season and cared for 9 children and some grandchildren. In 2006 she said: “I praise KYAWDA for the knowledge and skills I got especially in agronomy, nutrition, farming as a business and post harvest handling/marketing. I feel proud and I use this knowledge on my farm, family and above all to train others. I am now a very good trainer and I have already been contracted by some organization under NAADS to work as a group facilitator.”
In 2006, Ms. Bukenya planted four acres in a season. She says, “Three seasons back I planted one acre of onions which I sold and bought a Motorcycle Yamaha second hand. I used some money to pay school fees for my children and reinvested the balance in farming in preparation for the following season. I grew maize and got good yields with the help of the improved seeds you give us and modern farming practices and indeed my family has been food secure for the last 3 years. I stopped going to the market to buy beans for sauce since KYAWDA came, instead I sell it to others.” Ms. Bukenya has also invested in animal rearing, and, as of November 2006, had six pigs and a cow.
Ms. Bukenya has also invested in animal rearing, and, as of November 2006, had six pigs and a cow.
|