Busoga Association   

This program was established in 1998 (formerly called Agricultural Extension and Food security Project – AEFSP) when it launched its activities in Bukanga Sub County. It is composed of 6 parishes and divided into 42 villages. It has a population of 15,576 female and 14,888 male a total of 30,464 to date, with a population growth of 3.5% annually. It is one of the densely populated sub counties in the district with a population density of 325 persons per sq.km. Bukanga has about 4,378 households about 40% (1,751) households have been attacked by food and nutrition security, leaving 20% of the children under five years malnourished.

WHAT WE HAVE DONE THE COMMUNITIES THROUGH THIS PROGRAM. (FNSP).

In 1999 the organization supported 90 families in Bukanga Sub County when it secured a one years grant worth USD 40,000 from AUSAID (Australian Aid). Through training, workshops and provision of improved seeds, fertilizers, tools, construction of food storages and garden clearing and maintenance for the beneficiary families we managed to achieve the following results;

900kgs of longe 1 maize seeds, 625kgs of K132 bean seeds and 200 bags of cassava cuttings of SS4 and nasy1 were distributed to families.

PROBLEMS AND CHALLENGES.

OUR PLAN FOR JANUARY 2002 – DECEMBER 2003.

The organization through this program has prepared a two years action plan through which it will accomplish its mission and purpose of existence. It has therefore, set and overall goal and objectives.

To attain a food self sufficient household both qualitative and quantitative to ensure an adequate dietary in take for all its members in a gender sensitive, socially acceptable and environmentally friendly manner.

OBJECTIVES.

1. Increasing agricultural productivity and food production to ensure food security and self-sufficiency.
2. To contribute towards the improvements of the nutritional status of the population with special emphasis on mothers and children.
3. Contribute towards the improvement of the literacy rate (status) of the population with more emphasis on women and the girl child.
4. Monitoring and evaluation.

1. Inadequate agricultural technologies.

The majority of farmers have inadequate agricultural technologies. And the opportunities to learn such technologies are limited and/or unavailable. Such inadequate facilitation of agricultural operations have greatly hindered increased productivity.

2. Environmental degradation.

The current pattern of land management and the ever increasing quest for farm land, have presented numerous environmental problems of which soil erosion is the most serious.

Soil erosion has increased with the loss of the vegetative cover and has led to a rapid decline in soil fertility and agricultural productivity. Soil erosion characterized by the loss of the thin layer (20-30cm) top soil which is capable of sustaining plant growth has led to cuts in plant yields by an estimation of 2-3% for every 10 metric tonns of soil lost /hectare.

3. Land fragmentation.

About 85% of the households produce both cash and food crops, and raise livestock on holdings of less than 2 hectares on land.

Therefore, land fragmentation means less food on the table for every member of the family.

4. Poverty.

About 46% of the people are living in absolute poverty and it has significantly attributed to food and nutrition insecurity because most of the food crops like maize, beans, cassava and bananas, have turned out to be cash crops. Such a situation has agitated food and nutrition security in such a way that many households sell off their produce sometimes before they are ready for harvesting, in order to meet their home needs like paying tuition fees for the children, medical bills, etc…

5. Per and post harvest losses.

Per-harvest losses such as pests and diseases have also contributed to food insecurity to the families/farmers. About 35% of the food harvested is lost annually to spoilage, rodents, insects and poor storage.

6. Over burden of women.

Women provide about 70% of the total agricultural labor force and responsible for 80% of food crops and 50% of cash crops production and virtually for all food processing. Notwithstanding their large contribution, women face a number of gender specific constraints that limit their access to productivity, assets, employment, and hinder their ability to gain control and use of crucial resources, materials as well as non-material.

7. Poor accessibility of in puts by farmers.

There is poor access to agricultural inputs by farmers and where availed they are very expensive.

8. Insufficient credit facilities.

Although the agricultural sector is the lead sector of the economy in terms of its contribution to the GDP(50%); employment(80%); and foreign exchange earnings(over 90%), it only receives 5% bank credit while trade and marketing sector contributes only 15% to GDP and receive about 64% of the total bank credit of which 21% is crop financed.

9. Illiteracy.

The illiteracy rate in the farmers is still high with 54% of the total population is illiterate. With the modernization of agriculture which is under way by the government may fail to take off largely because reading and writing are required. Where women who provide about 70% of the total agricultural labor force, 63% of them are illiterate.

The contribution of women to food and nutrition security is very essential because they provide 70% of the total agricultural labor force in a predominantly agricultural sub county, are responsible for 80% of food crops production and more that 50% of cash crops production. It is evident that in women-maintained households the nutritional status of children is better, because women are likely to prioritize feeding their dependants, while men commonly spend a greater proportion of household income on inessential personal items, such as tobacco and alcohol.

When women are taught the basics of nutrition, 50%-70% of the nutrition problems will be solved, because when women learn, every one benefits.

Active participation of men in food and nutrition security is not only intended to enlist their support but also to influence change in behavior and attitudes. This will also reduce the bias against women in the economic sphere in general and particularly in agriculture.

Youths are one of the untapped resources that may have the potential of reducing food and nutrition insecurity since they are accounted for the goal the adults seem to have difficulty in accomplishing and hence to bring forth a community of tomorrow free from food and nutrition insecurity. The exclusion of youths from food and nutrition security activities may in one way or another contribute to the lack of change in behavior and attitude with regards to food and nutrition security in future.

EXPECTED RESULTS.

On the completion of this two years action plan the organization expects to achieve the following results on their beneficiaries;