Conservation Agriculture Improves Household Income

(UGANDA) World Renew and PAG-Kaberamaido are piloting a conservation farming project among 150 farmers as a way of addressing persistent household insecurity caused by changing weather and deteriorating soil fertility. One of the families benefiting from this pilot project is headed by 44-year-old Jennifer Otija, a mother of four and a farmer who is reaping her harvest with a smile. This is her story.

Jennifer:
After I was trained in conservation farming, I was amazed to find that I could raise a nursery bed of tomatoes and cabbages during the dry season. All I did was mulch, water, and space the plants using the techniques I learned.

In December, the hottest, driest month of the year in this region, I transplanted 400 tomato seedlings and 500 cabbage seedlings from the nursery bed to my main garden. Thanks to the knowledge I got from conservation agriculture training, my crops survived!

All through the dry season, I watered the crops regularly with water I got from the well. Many people in the village laughed at me and said that I was wasting time. But I continued with the project and managed to mulch the cabbage and tomato gardens.

In the end, I had a great harvest and sold most of my crops. From just the sale of the tomatoes, I earned about US$700. I was so excited—I have never received or owned this much money in all my life! I used part of my income to pay my son’s high school tuition. I also enrolled two of my children in a better primary school.

I would never have been able to achieve these things if had it not been for the conservation agriculture training I received and the hard work I put in to the project. During the driest season, I was the only person selling tomatoes to my entire village. I thank all the people who support us through World Renew, and I give glory to God who made this happen!

That is Jennifer's story—and one that she tells with a smile. With the remainder of her income, Jennifer bought more improved seeds which she will plant on a larger piece of land. She is now encouraging her neighbors to embrace conservation agriculture practices because it is profitable and produces higher yields and higher income compared to traditional farming methods.

Prayer

Pray for Milly and I as we plan and link up with friends and churches during our upcoming deputation in North America from September through November.
Pray for continued rains as farmers have just planted their seeds.
Pray for the work of World Renew and our partners in Uganda.

Cheers

Thank God for the good harvest farmers have had here in the first season of the project!
Praise for safety and health God has granted to us so far as we have served and travelled in the field.