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Postcard from Uganda: providing local solutions to local problems

11 June 2013

Postcard from Uganda: providing local solutions to local problems

Photo: Christine is a farmer in Nakasongola district of Uganda

By Rosie Marfleet

On a bus journey through central Uganda a few years ago, I was taken aback by the phenomenally lush landscape that surrounded me. I remember wondering why people were going hungry when it seemed to me that the conditions were perfect for farming.

Having recently gone on an eye-opening first visit to one of Farm Africa’s projects, I now understand that I couldn’t have been more wrong.

Pests and crop diseases

Since joining Farm Africa, not long after that bus trip, I’ve learnt much more about the difficulties rural farmers in Uganda face. Although the climate is well suited to agriculture and the land is fertile, they struggle endlessly with pests and crop diseases that decimate their harvests.

But it wasn’t until my recent project visit that I truly, fully appreciated how much of an impact these things can have, and also the expertise of Farm Africa’s staff.

Our beans and peanuts project covers three districts: Luwero, Nakaseke and Nakasongola – all within a two-hour drive of each other. Yet the farmers our team works with in each area couldn’t be facing more different problems.

Dealing with drought

Farmer Baale George in his flourishing fieldAt a training session in Luwero, farmers told me that the biggest challenges they face include crop diseases and pests such as aphids and squirrels. But the following day, when I visited farmers in Nakasongola district, it was immediately clear to me that their main concern was the rain – the ground was much harder and the landscape far less green. Farmers told us of their struggles with erratic rainfall and periods of drought.

As I spoke to more and more farmers, it became clear that the slight difference in the climate of Nakasongola really made a huge difference to the lives of families there. Rains were far less predictable, making planting at the best time far harder, and typical harvests were significantly smaller than those in neighbouring districts.

So it’s essential my colleagues understand all the different challenges that the farmers we work with have to deal with. Because our staff live and work locally, they are ideally placed to provide tailored training and advice, and find local solutions to local problems.

Producing enough food

Thanks to the dedication and expertise of our team, farmers in each district are learning the most relevant skills and techniques, and are being provided with the support they need to ensure that they can produce as much food as possible from their land.

With nine out of ten families in the region reliant on small-scale farming to survive, this couldn’t be more important for the communities that we work with.

- Rosie is one of Farm Africa’s direct marketing officers

Read more about our work in Uganda

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