AFOD in consortium with Palm Corps through complementary activities on backyard gardening has established vegetable demonstration sites at all the food distribution points with the aim of ensuring smallholder farmers and individuals learn and replicate backyard gardening. Below are testimonies of beneficiaries who have benefitted from the project:
“The south Sudan war had a far-reaching impact on my life. I lost my resources including my only motorbike. However, this year, I experienced a turning point in my life when I learned about AFOD and PALM Corps initiative in promoting backyard gardening to improve the nutritional status of the beneficiaries.” Likambo narrates.
“I joined the PIPILET farmer group where I received seeds and training on establishment and management of Kitchen gardens. I silently got motivated and thought to myself, it could be a life-changing opportunity for me and my family.” Likambo explained.
“With the knowledge acquired, I utilized a small portion of my land to grow a variety of vegetables including; eggplants, tomatoes, onions, and Sukuma wiki (collards). My Kitchen garden is now like my motorbike. From the vegetables produced, I can now buy more food, meet household needs, and even buy clothes for my wife and children.”
When asked about his plan for the next season, Mr. Likambo said, “ I intend to increase the number of vegetables grown by using 60 by 60 meters of land so that my family can have enough food to feed on and money for sustenance.”
Agnes Aber, a 26 years old refugee from South Sudan lives with her 1-year old daughter in Base camp zone of Palorinya refugee settlement. Aber was selected to be a nutrition mentor by the farmer group members of Iboa village.
Farmer groups were provided with a variety of vegetable seeds including tomatoes, collards (Sukuma wiki), carrots, onions, and eggplants. Members were taught about the benefits of vegetables and how to grow them.
“For a long time, I have struggled with inadequate food and recurring body rashes on my daughter Becky due to reduction in ration quantity. Through AFOD/Palm Corps, I learned that vegetables provide micronutrients that protect our bodies from diseases which motivated me to establish a kitchen garden at my home.
Within one month, I was already enjoying vegetables from my kitchen garden and I eventually noticed a change on my baby’s skin, which I attribute to the vegetables”.
Aber went on to call upon other refugees to start their gardens.
“I encourage others to establish kitchen /backyard gardens on their compounds to improve their household nutritional status because it does not require much land.”
Justine Nyarakajo, a 36 years old South Sudanese Refugee from Palorinya settlement living in Zone II-Morobi narrates how he has reaped big from vegetable gardening.
“I was a businessman selling general merchandise worth UGX. 4,000,000 which I lost during the South Sudan war. I lost my livelihood when I moved with my six family members on foot to Uganda. Life was harder than ever before. I frequently experienced food shortage as we entirely depended on the ration from World Food Programme.”
When I heard from the Refugee Welfare Committees about support from PALM Corp, AFOD, and WFP partnership, I decided to join the group (God Blessed Us Farmer Group) of Idiwa Village, Zone II-Morobi. To me, it was a life-changing move as it enabled me to gain practical knowledge through the training and sensitization sessions on the importance of kitchen gardening, and skills of managing it.”
“I took up these lessons and applied them in my own home. I started to raise money to buy basic vegetable seeds which I grew and sold at Konyokonyo market. I used the profit for paying children school fees, buying medicine and food. Today, l have reaped a fortune from vegetable growing that has made my life much better.”
So far, Justine has inspired four group members who have learnt from his home and have replicated vegetable production. Justine hopes to start up goat rearing by the end of 2021.
