Agricultural Support
The members of our cooperatives rely upon agriculture to survive, and with the assistance of Engineers for Overseas Development (EFOD), a sister charity, we have been able to provide 3 secure, dry and rodent free grain stores for both dried food and seeds in the Kachumbala area. Cassava is a staple food crop in Teso, but tuber rot is migrating north in Uganda, completely destroying the cassava in the ground in affected gardens. In 2018, SaltPeter trust were able to provide each cooperative with rot resistant cassava cuttings from the local research station. 5 members of each cooperative are growing a trial crop of half an acre, an early harvest in mid 2019 suggests the crop will be really good. Cuttings are being taken and distributed to other cooperative members until all are able to plant the rot resistant variety, in 4 to 5 years time. Grain Storage
SaltPeter Trust have been promoting secure grain storage over the last 8 years. Supported by engineering charity Engineers For Overseas Development, groups the North West, South West Wales and West Midlands committed themselves to build 3 Grain Stores in Kachumbala, NE Uganda between 2013 and 2016. The purpose was to help 3 Women's Cooperatives to store their grain in dry, vermin free conditions, to increase |
its value. We aimed to improve the living conditions and assist each member to work themselves out of poverty. However, the lack of rains in recent years lead to poor harvests in 2015 &16, and a failed harvest in 2017. SaltPeter Trust, sent over £7,000 to provide food to keep members of the cooperatives alive, and the 3 stores were empty.
In mid 2018 SPT determined to start again. A private grant was sufficient to purchase 22 Tonnes of maize, as seen above, seen in one store in December 18. SaltPeter Trust paid a generous price to the local farmers for their grain.
Staff were employed to purchase sacks of maize, lay grain out on tarpaulins every 2 weeks to continue the drying process, and to guard the store. Women from the cooperative joined in storing their gnuts and maize for a small charge. When visited in January 19 the store certainly appeared to be serving its purpose.
After 5 months of storage we heard that the grain, bought for 400 ugx (9p) per kilo has sold for 700ugx (15p), an increase of 75%. Of course there have been operational costs. The drying of the grain reduced its weight by 11%. The purchase of sacks, the hire of labour and other costs such as fuel and airtime. But the great news is that the programme of maize purchase and storage has yielded a handsome profit of near to 30%. Local farmers were paid a fair price for their crop, workers were employed to purchase, dry and sell, and the cooperative members have been able to see that careful storage significantly increases the value of their crops.
The funds from the sale stayed in Uganda to be used for a second harvest of gnuts or cassava. SaltPeter Trust introduced a new cassava variety resistant to tuber rot last year, and a much improved yield is anticipated at the next harvest.
Serenut-7, a new variety of gnut was introduced to further improve the crops for the women of the cooperatives.
Who says SaltPeter Trust andEngineers can't make a difference. Working with others, we can and we do.
In mid 2018 SPT determined to start again. A private grant was sufficient to purchase 22 Tonnes of maize, as seen above, seen in one store in December 18. SaltPeter Trust paid a generous price to the local farmers for their grain.
Staff were employed to purchase sacks of maize, lay grain out on tarpaulins every 2 weeks to continue the drying process, and to guard the store. Women from the cooperative joined in storing their gnuts and maize for a small charge. When visited in January 19 the store certainly appeared to be serving its purpose.
After 5 months of storage we heard that the grain, bought for 400 ugx (9p) per kilo has sold for 700ugx (15p), an increase of 75%. Of course there have been operational costs. The drying of the grain reduced its weight by 11%. The purchase of sacks, the hire of labour and other costs such as fuel and airtime. But the great news is that the programme of maize purchase and storage has yielded a handsome profit of near to 30%. Local farmers were paid a fair price for their crop, workers were employed to purchase, dry and sell, and the cooperative members have been able to see that careful storage significantly increases the value of their crops.
The funds from the sale stayed in Uganda to be used for a second harvest of gnuts or cassava. SaltPeter Trust introduced a new cassava variety resistant to tuber rot last year, and a much improved yield is anticipated at the next harvest.
Serenut-7, a new variety of gnut was introduced to further improve the crops for the women of the cooperatives.
Who says SaltPeter Trust andEngineers can't make a difference. Working with others, we can and we do.