Agricultural Empowerment for Rural Farmers

Women in Uganda face significant challenges as they seek employment outside of the home. Harriet had always dreamed of becoming an example of those women struggling to make that dream a reality without the necessary training. After joining a CSRD program, she was matched with a mentor and received the business and technical skills she needed to start her Piggery.

Since the hit of COVID-19 pandemic farmers who are part of CSRD program have not only engaged in crop production but have carried out other income generating activities like poultry, piggery among others. These have helped them to realize additional household income leading to improved income and savings, hence, improved livelihood.

Additionally, the litter from the poultry and the animals are used as organic manure for the crops, and we expected, through our agronomist who has trained the farmers how to apply them, the yields will improve

Harriet aged 49 a resident of Manyama, Mateete Sub- County, Sembabule district-Uganda. She is a single mother with six children. Harriet narrates that her husband died when her children were young in primary section, the elder one by then had just completed primary seven. Harriet was stuck. Harriet is a member in Nkobazambogo Farmers Group and good enough that group is a member to COSMA where they get soft loans at an interest of 2 % as a group. Harriet, after realizing that she was stuck, planned to borrow money from the group to start a piggery project. She went to her group and asked for a loan of five hundred thousand shillings (500,000/=) at an interest of 3%, which she received. Subsequently, she used that money to construct a piggery sty, bought 2 piglets and after the piglets had grown up to pigs, one delivered 8 piglets, 2 of them died and she sold off 4 at the cost of 80,000 per piglet, remaining with 4 pigs.