In Uganda particularly in Adjumani district in West Nile sub-region, many households especially among the Refugee communities are unable to meet their food consumption and income requirement needs due to various reasons like difficulty in acquiring land and farm tools for agricultural production among others. This deters them from engaging in food production and income generating activities to complement the General Food Assistance by WFP and Partners.
In 2021, Alliance Forum for Development (AFOD) Uganda in partnership with Adjumani District Local Government (ADLG) started implementing livelihood activities in the four FDPs of Maaji 2&3, Mungula and Ayilo 1. The beneficiaries of the project are both Refugees and host community. AFOD with the help of Office of Prime Minister (OPM) and Local Council 1 identified landlords and entered in to agreement with them. The landlords offered their land for cultivation for the groups for a period of 5-10 years and in return, AFOD provided tree seedlings and the group members planted and are maintaining the trees for the landlords. Land opening was done, all the group members were identified, issued farm tools like hoes and seeds among others and they are now actively participating in the livelihood activities.
Mr. Guma, a landlord in Maaji 3 who offered his land for the Hadia farmers group narrates how the project started on his land and the impacts. In April 2021, a team from AFOD Uganda and other stakeholders visited my home to request for a piece of my land for the implementation of livelihood project that was aimed at building household/community assets to meet food consumption gaps and enhanced household income. “When we met and they shared with me the ideas about the project, I agreed together with my family to give them 10 acres of land for 5 years”, said Mr. Guma.
After giving the land, AFOD took up the land clearing and preparation efforts. The group members of Hadia Farmers group consisting of Refugees and the host community were identified; allocated land and provided with farming tools and seeds. Out of the 10 acres, 8 acres was allocated to the group members and 650 teak trees and 650 eucalyptus trees were planted on 2 acres for the landlord.
Asked on how he feels about the trees, Mr. Guma said, “I am seeing the trees are doing well and I have hope of getting some good harvest out of them in the years to come”.
Regarding the impact of the project, Mr. Guma narrates that “The project has also brought unity between my family, the refugees and other host community members and we now live as a family”. He urged other Nationals and the Refugees to embrace similar projects.