By Jimmy Muhumuza
After eight years of serving his motherland as a soldier, Bosco Odyeng found himself at crossroads in 1987 after being retired from the army.
At this moment in time, the tall and lanky patron didn’t fathom what the world had for him and his eleven biological children. But if there was anything, agriculture, specifically vine farming and animal husbandry became his fallback position.
So he relocated, together with his wife Sarah Adong to their village of Akadi-Kum in Otuke Town Council, Lango sub-region.
However life at first was hectic and full of many obstacles. His situation was further compounded by a lack of knowledge of sustainable agricultural practices. Like many other farmers across Africa, he relied on improvising, hoping that the gamble would work out. This was all but in vain.
However when all hope appeared to have gone up in smoke, in 2021 he learned about Sasakawa Africa Association – Uganda (SAA), an organization whose aims include increasing farmers’ income, food production, and nutrition-sensitive and market-oriented agriculture.
This marked a turning point for the 63 years old ex-serviceman.
Smallholder farmers in the drought-hit district of Napak have appealed to Government to provide them with mechanized equipment like oxen plows.
Vicky Ngorok the Chairperson of Mothers Union Peace Association (MUPA), an organization that brings together 30 female smallholder farmers in Go Down village, Iriiri Sub County made this appeal on November 11, 2022.
Her comments come against the backdrop of an unprecedented drought that struck the North Eastern district in July claiming the lives of over 900 people according to local leaders. This prompted Government to send food relief worth UGX 135 Bn.
Speaking to the press on Friday, Ngorok pointed out that whereas crop yields have drastically improved, courtesy of the “Agricultural Market Support” Programme that is currently being implemented by Sasakawa Africa Association – Uganda (SAA) alongside the World Food Programme, the cost of labor remains a big challenge.
Sasakawa was established in 1987 by Ryoichi Sasakawa of the Nippon Foundation of Japan, former US President Jimmy Carter, and Dr. Norman Borlaug to foster a ‘Green Revolution in Africa following back-to-back famines.
Since opening its offices in 1996, Sasakawa has operated in 60 districts which include but are not limited to Nabilatuk, Nakapiripiriti, and Moroto.
It has also reached out to over 700,000 smallholder farmers, and 400 sub-counties and trained 4,180 extension agents in collaboration with various partners.
Sasakawa is in the thick it’s a new Strategic Plan (2021-2025) new strategic plan (2021-2025). This blueprint is anchored on three pillars regenerative agriculture, nutrition-sensitive agriculture, and market-oriented agriculture.
Under the regenerative agricultural pillar, farmers are encouraged to use approaches such as minimum tillage, mulching, and planting improved varieties while optimizing the application of chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
Nutrition-sensitive agriculture on the other hand seeks to solve early childhood malnutrition and health challenges that are pervasive in Africa through the cultivation of bio-fortified crops such as Iron Rich Beans, Provitamin A Maize, and Vitamin A-rich orange-fleshed sweet potatoes.
The last pillar seeks to enhance access to post-harvest agro-processing and hermetic grain storage to lessen losses.
Their latest charge is poised at promoting practices that sustainably increase production its scope is on promoting practices that sustainably increase production, enhance resilience and reduce greenhouse emissions where possible.
Sasakawa was established in 1987 by Ryoichi Sasakawa of the Nippon Foundation of Japan, former US President Jimmy Carter, and Dr. Norman Borlaug to foster a ‘Green Revolution in Africa following back-to-back famines.
Since opening its offices in 1996, Sasakawa has operated in 60 districts which include but are not limited to Nabilatuk, Nakapiripiriti, and Moroto.
It has also reached out to over 700,000 smallholder farmers such as Benson Ogwal a rice farmer and Agro input dealer who hails from Acamroma village in Okile Parish, Erute South in Lira District.
Sasakawa is in the thick of a new Strategic Plan (2021-2025) new strategic plan (2021-2025). This blueprint is anchored on three pillars regenerative agriculture, nutrition-sensitive agriculture, and market-oriented agriculture.
