Uganda Wakiso program 1600-3003
Stories: July 30, 2009
Nalongo, member of a Savings, Credit and Cooperative (SACCO), is working in her two-acre maize field.
Nalongo (44 years old) narrates her story with the support from Voluntary Action for Development.
“When Voluntary Action for Development (VAD) intervened in our community, it was a big opportunity for me as a farmer because the program was basically on agribusiness which I had longed for a period of time as a farmer.
After the several trainings that were provided by Voluntary Action for Development in agronomic practices, new farming techniques, bookkeeping, value addition and marketing, I applied for a loan of UgShs 600,000 (about $300) to cultivate two acres of improved maize.
With the loan, I bought one two-liter bottle of weed master at UgShs 36,000 ($18); DAP fertilizers at UgShs 75,000 ($37.50); NPK fertilizers at UgShs 75,000 ($37.50); a plough at Ugshs 240,000 ($120); 20 kilograms of maize (variety - longe 4) at Ugshs 100,000 ($50); and paid someone to weed at UgShs 120,000 ($60) to weed.
I cultivated two acres of maize and currently it is about to be harvested. During harvesting, I expect to get at least 40 bags of 100 kgs each which will be sold collectively with other cooperative members to schools around us at UgShs 500 ($0.25) per kg. I shall use part of the money to pay back my loan and school fees for my three children while part of the money will be used to reinvest in maize. I also have a plan to use some of the money to invest in a local poultry project.
I would have benefited more from the agribusiness project if it was not for the changes in weather patterns which affected my maize. However, I am so grateful to VAD for the technical assistance provided in farming because our livelihoods have improved.”
James, member of a Savings, Credit and Cooperative (SACCO), has intercropped a garden of maize and beans. He also has a garden of tomatoes.
“My name is James (35 years old) and I am a resident in a village in the Wakiso District.
I have been a farmer since 1992 and I was growing maize, beans, sweet potatoes and tomatoes on a small scale before Voluntary Action for Development (VAD) introduced agribusiness.
When VAD introduced farming on a large scale for better returns from agricultural production, I was among those who were trained in agribusiness, agronomic practices, savings and credit management, and book keeping.
After the training, I applied for a loan of UgShs 750,000 (about $375) which I used to cultivate three acres of maize intercropped with beans.
I used UgShs 80,000 ($40) for clearing the garden; UgShs 80,000 ($40) to buy four liters of herbicides for weed control; 85 kgs of improved beans at UgShs 110,500 ($55.25); five kgs of maize at UgShs 60,000 ($30); tractor plough at UgShs 360,000 ($180) for three acres; and paid someone to weed at UgShs 100,000 ($50).
When I harvested for the first time, I managed to get 30 bags of maize and 13 bags of beans of 100 kg bags each. I sold the maize at UgShs 350 (about $0.18) per kg and got UgShs 1,050,000 (about $525). I sold the beans at UgShs 1,200 (about $0.60) per kg and got UgShs 1,560,000 (about $780).
I used part of the money to repay the loan and pay school fees for my four children. I invested the biggest part of money into growing tomatoes which I knew was profitable at that time.
The major challenge of the season was the drought which hit our crops immediately after planting. Otherwise, with the trainings received from VAD, I expected to get bigger returns from my venture in agribusiness.”