Helping Local Ugandan Farmers and Refugees Become Self-Reliant
Peace Winds has been working with farmers in western Uganda–both refugees and local residents–to construct and equip a new processing facility for their crops that they will manage. This new space is being utilized as part of Peace Winds’ agricultural training programs, and it helps farmers strengthen food security at a time when there are increasing food shortages in the region.
Kyaka II Refugee Settlement, near Kyegegwa in Western Uganda, is home to more than 130,000 refugees, many of whom have fled the civil war in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Many refugees and local Ugandans in and around Kyaka II rely on farming to feed their families and earn a living. However, the crops they grow are often not climate-resilient, and most farmers do not grow a diverse enough variety of crops to provide sufficient nutrition–or a steady source of income–throughout the year. Over the past year, food aid cuts and persistent droughts linked to climate change have hit the community hard, fueling food shortages and increasing malnutrition.
To help strengthen local food security, Peace Winds set up a “model farm” and incubation center two years ago that teaches new planting techniques and introduces new strains of grains, vegetables, and fruits. Refugees and local Ugandans come here to test out new, climate-smart farming methods and learn to put them into action on their own farms. Trainees reported that they learned a lot and saw greater yields as a result.
The next step was to add extra value to farmers’ crops so they could increase their earnings. For example, staple foods like beans and corn can be sold for more–or stored until they can fetch a reasonable price–if they are processed into flour rather than sold as-is. The problem was that there was no facility with the necessary machines and equipment, or a reliable supply of electricity, in or around Kyaka.
So Peace Winds helped the farmers build what they needed. We laid electricity to the new site and constructed a facility equipped with everything for processing cash crops like corn, peanuts, and soybeans.
To further empower the farmers, Peace Winds also helped them set up an agricultural cooperative that will disseminate know-how and serve as a support network. The group is using the new processing facility as a base, and members are already helping one another learn new skills and diversify their products. Their hope is to help local farmers earn a better living by spreading the “Kyaka brand,” both within the camp and beyond.
This program is supported by a grant from Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and by contributions from donors like you.
Check out video coverage of the grand opening event from the local news station TV West (language: Nkore only).
