This project will enhance the capacity of 2000 refugee women to produce their own food by providing them with quick maturing vegetable seeds and farming tools (handheld hoes). The goal is to reduce hunger, malnutrition, poor health and improve on the immunity of the target women and children thus helping to reduce the risk of their exposure to contracting the corona virus resulting from dietary deficiency problems.
UN World food program recently announced 30% monthly reduction in food and cash rations given to over 1.4 million refugees in Uganda. With 65% of the over 220,000 refugees in Adjumani settlements being women and children, Hunger, starvation, malnutrition and compromised immunity has increased their exposure to contracting COVID-19 especially given the current limited efforts to enhance their capacity to produce their own food through seed distribution and provision of farming tools.
The project will provide each of the 2000 targeted women/girls with 1kg of assorted vegetable seeds and one handheld hoe. This will enhance their capacity to produce their own nutritious food (vegetables) vital in boosting their body immunity and reducing the risk of contracting COVID-19 while alleviating hunger and starvation. On-going training and technical agricultural advisory support services shall be provided to the beneficiary women/girls.
The projects long term impact is reduced dependence on food aid among vulnerable refugee women due to enhanced capacity to produce their own food, reduced levels of hunger and malnutrition among the targeted household individuals leading to a significant reduction in cases of COVID-19 attributable to low immunity. Over 12,000 will directly benefit from increased access to nutritious vegetables leading to improved immunity and their general health status.
