A NARRATIVE REPORT FOR THE FIRSTQUARTER
(JANUARY MARCH)
PROMOTING SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE FOR IMPROVED FOOD SECURITY,
LIVELIHOODS AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION AMONG 30
VULNERABLE WOMEN HEADED HOUSEHOLDS IN HOIMA DISTRICT
Location of the project: ITARA VILLAGE, BUSIISI SUB-COUNTY HOIMA DISTRICT,
WESTERN UGANDA
REPROTING PERIOD: JANUARY-MARCH
Submitted to: Quaker Service Australia
Date of submission: 23rd March 2016
Acronyms
DS: Demonstration Site
GAP: Good Agronomic Practices
PHH: Post Harvest Handling
QSA: Quaker Service Australia
Summary of the report
Environmental Conservation and Agricultural Enhancement Uganda (Eco-Agric Uganda) is a
registered organization under the Uganda registrar of companies-as a company limited by
guarantee with no share capital. It is a Non-Governmental Organization, established in 2007 as a
Community Based Organization and registered with the Government of Uganda in 2010. It
works with rural farmers, women, orphans, vulnerable children and persons living with
HIV/AIDS. It aims at improving community livelihoods through improved health, agricultural
production & environmental conservation.
In December 2015, Eco-Agric Uganda received funds from QSA to undertake a six months
project extension (January 2016 June 2016). This project aims at promoting sustainable
agriculture for improved food security, livelihoods and environmental conservation among 30
vulnerable women headed households in Hoima District, Western Uganda- Itara village. The
project aims at improving food security income and nutrition among 30 rural women headed
households. Eco-Agric Uganda has now successfully completed its first quarter of second year of
project implementation.
During this quarter, the beneficiaries were trained in poultry rearing and vaccination, vegetable
irrigation and compost making. The training on vegetables aimed at promoting organic farming
practices for example application of organic manure and thick mulching. In these trainings, the
farmers were practically trained onmaking plant tea and slurry. In conservation, practices like
contour trenches, diversion channels and mulching were emphasized. Demonstration on growing
of different vegetable types was conducted. Further trainings covered pest and disease
management, Good Agronomic Practices and post- harvest handling of vegetables. In this period,
there was purchasing of vegetable seeds which were distributed plus chicken and their feeds yet
to be distributed.
Progress of the project
Enhancing poultry production
600 birds (Kroilers) and 300kgs of poultry feeds (Chick mash) were purchased and distributed to
30 households. They are being reared semi-intensively. Kroilers are being promoted because they
are resistant to diseases and can be managed outdoors hence being manageable by all. They also
grow faster than the local birds hence give quick returns. They have been vaccinated against
New castle, Gumboro and Typhoid. However, organic disease control and prevention methods
are also being used.
Purchase of poultry feeds
Since the birds are reared semi-intensively, they were given supplementary feeds to enhance their
diet. 300kg of poultry feeds (Chick mash) were purchased and will be distributed to the
beneficiaries. Each beneficiary got 10Kgs
Purchase and distribution of farm inputs
Irrigation buckets were procured and given to 15 households to enhance vegetable growing. This
was done to enhance agriculture especially vegetable production during the dry season. The
beneficiaries were also provided with small hand sprayers to enhance use of organic pesticides
and manure. These were to ensure growth of disease free crops that would result in high yields
thus fetching much income.
A technical staff demonstrating to a beneficiary on how use a hand sprayer
Procurement of vegetable seeds
Vegetable seeds were procured and nursery beds set up to enhance vegetable growing. This has
greatly improved livelihoods of the beneficiaries as they were able to have a constant supply of
vegetables for sell. Vegetables procured and distributed were: egg plants, tomatoes and night
shade. These were sown in nurseries and the seedlings were distributed to the beneficiaries.
Trainings in poultry rearing and vaccination
Prior to engagement in any enterprise, there is always need to conduct training to the
beneficiaries about the enterprise. This called for trainings in poultry rearing and vaccination.
This has helped beneficiaries raise healthy birds with 2% mortality. This was mainly due to
accidents. Good looking birds mean higher prices thus improved livelihoods of the beneficiaries.
The trainings covered poultry housing, feeding (feed type like growers mash, feeding ration,
provision of water and cleanliness of water and feed troughs) and vaccination of birds against
infectious diseases like Gomboro, fowl pox, new castle and infectious bronchitis and
management of disease infested birds. These trainings aimed at preparing the farmers to receive
and rear the chicken to be distributed.
Training on sustainable agricultural practices of vegetables
Sustainable agricultural practices are the different ways of producing crops in a way that will not
harm the natural resources. Trainings were done on the different practices like:- training on
vegetable irrigation by use of bucket irrigation or harvesting water runoff. Composite making
which is organic manure made from locally available materials. Using plant tea as a pesticide as
well as organic manure since its from the different plants. Slurry is organic manure which is
from animal dung especially those that feed on leafy green matter. To facilitate soil and water
conservation, contour trenches, diversion channels and mulching were demonstrated.
Setting of vegetable demonstration sites
Five demonstration sites were set up in different homes so that other farmers learn and transfer
the knowledge to their homes and practice the same. The demonstration covered line planting
and spacing for the different varieties. In these sites, soil and water conservation practices like
thick mulching, contour trenches and diversion channels were incorporated. The varieties
included long egg plants, tomatoes and night shade.
A demonstration site for vegetable irrigation and mulching as a form of water and soil
conservation
The
4
poultry
vegetable
follows:-
Community Trainings (CT) in
rearing and vaccination and 3 in
irrigation were conducted as
DATE
ACTIVITY
FEMALES
11th/3/2016
Training on poultry housing
23
25th/3/2016
Training on poultry feeding
21
1st/2/2016
Training on poultry vaccination
24
15th/2/2016
Training on poultry disease management
19
22nd/2/2016
Training on organic manure and pesticide
23
1st/3/2016
Training on nursery bed management
20
14th /3/2016
Training on soil and water conservation
27
A graph showing attendance of beneficiaries for the different trainings
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
FEMALES
Training on GAP
Training on Good Agronomic Practices of vegetables like land clearance, nursery bed
preparation management, pest and disease management, post harvest handling were conducted.
Other trainings were on how to make organic pesticides.
Farmers being trained in nursery bed management
Demonstration of spraying as one of the GAPs
Farm Visits
These farm visits were made to demonstration site hosts of vegetables and other beneficiaries
who were adopting the innovations. During these visits, farmers were guided on poultry
management. Vegetable growing techniques were also given.
Demonstration site host in her garden
Eseza is proud of her sac mounds
Monitoring and Evaluation:
This was done by the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, project coordinator and field staff. All
activities that were conducted during the quarter were monitored. The activity of monitoring
project activities was conducted every month. Three monitoring visits were conducted to ensure
that the project is on the right path. Emphasis was put on poultry housing and vegetable growing.
Changes in conditions
There were elections at national and local levels, which affected the people involved in the
project. However, this didnt stop project activities from happening.
Issues related to child protection to report
During the quarter, no issues related to child abuse were experienced. Therefore, there is nothing
to report about it.
Plans for the next quarter or period of reporting
Next quarter more emphasis will be put on poultry rearing, vegetable growing and irrigation and
compost making. Project evaluation will be done at the end of the quarter.
1
PLANS FOR THE FOLLOWING QUARTER
Activity to be carried
out
conduct trainings to
Self Help Groups
Conduct 8 trainings in
poultry rearing plus
vaccination,
6
trainings in vegetable
irrigation
and
composite
making
plus
set
up 10
demonstration sites on
irrigation farming and
composite making
Project evaluation
Target number
30 women
4 poultry rearing trainings, 3
trainings in vegetable irrigation, 3
trainings in compost making and 5
demonstration sites on irrigation
farming and compost making
Apri
l
May
June
July
Appendix 1: Table showing participants who attended the different trainings
Activities
Direct beneficiaries
Indirect beneficiaries
Disabled
Men
Women
Training on
poultry housing
20
Training on
poultry feeding
24
Training on
poultry
vaccination
22
Training on
poultry disease
management
25
Training on
organic manure
and pesticide
23
Training on
nursery bed
management
20
Training on soil
and water
conservation
27
Boy
Gir
l
Men
Women
Boy
Disabled
Gir
l
Men
Women
Boy
Girl
Men
Women
Boy
The group has one man who saves and is active in other project activities
2 UPDATES ON RESULTS AND INDICATORS FOR QUARTER ONE YEAR 2
The table below gives the results achieved for the quarter:
Activity
Indicators of Progress
Buying 600 chicken
600 chicks bought and distributed
Buying poultry feeds
300Kgs of poultry feeds bought and distributed
with chicks
Girl
Conduct 8 trainings in poultry rearing plus
vaccination, 6 trainings in vegetable
irrigation and composite making plus set up
10 demonstration sites on irrigation farming
and composite making
4 trainings
Procuring vegetable seeds
15 tins of vegetables were purchased and
distributed.
Submitted by
NAKAKANDE JOSEPHINE
PROJECT CO-ORDINATOR
on poultry management and 3 on
vegetable irrigation and composite were
conducted.
5 demonstration sites on irrigation farming and
composite making conducted.
