400 FARMERS GRADUATE IN SHEEMA DISTRICT, WESTERN UGANDA Farmer Field Schools and Junior Farmer Field Schools Graduation July 2017
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I used to ask for scholastic materials from my parents all the time: since I enrolled into the Junior Farmer Field School and begun growing my own crops and selling the harvest, I now afford them for myself. My parents are proud of me and many of my classmates are joining farming - Sylvia Ahereza, a 12 year old primary five pupil at Mahwizi Primary School in Mitooma District.
Farmers supported by the USAID-funded Sustainable Comprehensive Responses for vulnerable children and their families (SCORE) project are learning different agricultural enterprises such as backyard gardening and vegetable growing alongside other income generating activities. The approach is yielding real results and is not leaving anyone behind – children and parents alike. Under the theme “Empowering households in 425 farmers graduate food security and nutrition through farmer field [6 JFFLS and 12 FFS groups] and junior farmer field and life skills approaches”, six JFFLS groups have adopted the SCORE project methodology of establishing demonstration gardens in their households so that they can have supplementary food at home. Adult farmers in twelve groups also learned skills in Market Intelligence, Farming as a Business, post-harvest handling, and other modern farming methods with special attention to variety comparison, pest and disease prevention, control and management and soil fertility management. The farmers are working together to add value to their products and selling at higher prices. The groups from the districts of Sheema, Mitooma, Buhweju and Rubirizi have also organized themselves in Village Savings and Loans Associations where they are able to access small finances for investments and maintain their children in school. Household nutrition has improved and families are sure of food for longer periods.
By year six, the SCORE project had graduated 10,164 households corresponding to 66% of active households
The Member of Parliament for Sheema District, local government officials and neighboring communities also participated in the event at Kagazi Primary School. The local authorities pledged to integrate the registered groups to benefit from ongoing government programs. “Seeing smiles on the faces of people we once met with dim hope brings vitality to our work. The farmers have learned skills that will assist them for a long time” - Joanita N. Ssebayigga, AVSI’s Technical Advisor, Food Security and Nutrition.
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Through SCORE, malnutrition in Sheema District has reduced from 70% to 43%. I urge the farmers to be ambassadors of farming in the community and grow soya beans as well - Jacklet Atuhaire, Woman Member of Parliament.
Building resilient people:
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This graduation ceremony has paved way for people to end hunger and become commercial farmers with access to bigger markets – Ben Bataringaya, Director, Community Volunteer Initiative for Development.
About SCORE achievements in incomes and nutrition by year 6: Incomes: • Average monthly income increased by 308% from USD 12.4 to USD 38.1. • Unemployment decreased from 15.7% to 1.3%, reliance on remittances decreased from 6.7% to 2.3%. • Informal employment increased from 51.9% to 79.3%, casual labor decreased from 25.1% to 15.7%. • Formal employment increased from 0.6% to 1.5%. Nutrition: • Number of months households have adequate food in a year increased from 7 to 9.5. • Households consuming a balanced diet atleast 3 times a week changed from 48.2% to 89.7%. • Households eating less than 3 meals a day reduced from 94.2% to 53.3%. • Households with interrupted food supply reduced from 67.6% to 19.9%. • Reduction in the incidence of malnutrition from 51.6% to 13.5% (13.1% UW and 0.4% wasting/edema).
In pictures...