Mungulonyo Income Security Project, Nebbi District, Uganda

Challenge:

In the Nebbi region of Northern Uganda 90% of the local population are rural, 17% higher than the national average. They depend on subsistence farming characterized by traditional seeds, breeds, tools and indigenous technical knowledge. However, distribution of extension services, essential to improving the productivity of agriculture, does not mirror this. In Nebbi, distribution of these services is 15% below the national average. 

Hard-working farmers have low food production and low incomes. Practicing subsistence farming with low yielding varieties of crops and livestock, combined with a reliance on traditional knowledge alone, has contributed to these problems. A lack of entrepreneurship skills also means that farmers do not venture beyond working on the land in order to increase income. To add to the problem, the community is unable to add value to their cassava – their primary crop – to sell at market.

Action:

gorta is currently funding a project in Nebbi which will supply improved planting materials and also provide several training programmes. These training activities include agronomic practices, cassava processing technology, income generation and savings management. The project will also provide options to earning a livelihood alongside farming. Members will receive revolving funds as well.

Benefits:

The project aims to tackle the underlying causes of these problems by improving crop and livestock breed and improving agricultural practices. With the many offerings of this program, members will partake in a wider range of activities while practicing better business management and increasing savings. gorta recognises that with more savings, households will be able to afford foods they cannot produce themselves. Members will also have greater savings in key assets like livestock.
 

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