Hunger Relief for Most Vulnerable People in Uganda

We would like to share information about a self-reliance support project through agriculture in Karamoja region's Kotido District in northeastern Uganda. The Karamoja region is a part of a semi-arid zone with little rainfall. Therefore, food production is difficult, and it leads to serious hunger and poverty.

In this project, we have introduced irrigation facilities to harness rainwater and enable year-round agriculture in the region. By using these irrigation facilities, we aim to support the residents in producing food independently and sustainably.

In November 2023, vegetable cultivation using the irrigation facilities finally commenced. The cultivation involves the use of a technique called "drip irrigation," where water collected through tubes with small holes near the vegetables is supplied gradually.

The beneficiaries of the support project seem excited about the new irrigation facilities, and their agricultural activities become more efficient.

In addition to utilizing the precious water resources, training on the operation of the irrigation facilities is also being conducted. Each beneficiary undergoes multiple training sessions to understand the timing and quantity of irrigation, as well as maintenance procedures. This is intended to ensure that the beneficiaries can continue irrigated agriculture independently even after the project concludes.

The local staff in charge of training has implemented interactive methods, such as quizzes and dialogues, to ensure that the beneficiaries thoroughly grasp the training content.

Furthermore, in the Karamoja region where hunger and poverty are critical issues, frequent food aid has led to a significant problem of "aid dependency" among the residents. Therefore, our organization is conducting workshops aimed at transforming the mindset of the beneficiaries to focus on building their future (self-reliance) instead of relying solely on assistance.

To help the beneficiaries understand the importance of self-reliance, these workshops are conducted patiently and repeatedly. Since starting in September, there has been a gradual shift, with beneficiaries discussing and encouraging each other about the importance of self-reliance.

Finally, in December, the harvest and sale of vegetables will begin. The changes observed in the agricultural land and each beneficiary are significant encouragements for us.

With these positive developments as motivation, we will continue to advance the project collaboratively with the beneficiaries and local staff. We would greatly appreciate your continued interest and support in our efforts.