Climate change and increased climate variability present new risks and vulnerabilities for individuals and smallholder farmers in Yumbe, West Nile who depend mainly on rainfed agriculture. With limited options for diversified livelihoods, these communities are more vulnerable to climate risks, with direct negative impacts on household food security and nutritional status.
To address this challenge, AFOD rolled out a module on keyhole gardening to 505 care group volunteers (55 Male and 450 Female) across the four zones in Bidi Bidi refugee settlement to help improve food diversity by ensuring constant production of vegetables throughout the year with smart planting techniques which reserve water during drought conditions.
A keyhole garden is a circular raised garden bed with a compost basket at the center and a keyhole-shaped path that allows access to the entire garden. The composting basket can be fed throughout the season and will continually break down and deliver nutrients to the bed for the duration, as will the chunky bits of organic matter you add to the layers of the bed as you build it.
Joseph, a CGV in Igamara v.5 zone 4, testifies that the introduction of the module greatly improved his livelihood after being provided with seeds of tomatoes, sukuma wiki, carrots, and onions which he planted in the set keyhole gardens. He further adds that the fathers in his neighborhood have greatly appreciated the knowledge shared and this has made them adopt keyhole gardening which is improving the diets in their homes.
“There is likely to be an end to malnutrition in the settlement in the following years, so AFOD should continue to support us for the next five years,” says excited Joseph.
The module has been appreciated by most of the CGVs with the following statements recorded.
“We would love to thank AFOD for the support they have given us, especially during this pandemic. We are now able to have a balanced diet in our homes with vegetables at our disposal,” one CGV applauded.
To ensure sustainability, we advise the CGVs to keep seeds for the next planting season. Monthly field visits are usually conducted to follow up on compliance.
