Kamuli Farmers
Rose N., farmer
Kamuli district, Uganda
"Before VEDCO came, I believed bananas could never be produced on my land. When VEDCO came, I was taught new methods of planting and caring for bananas, I have over 100 stools today. The first time we harvested bananas from the group multiplication garden on my premises, we sold the six bunches for 47,000 [Ugandan shillings] each, some of which we used to register the group at the S/C, and to open a bank account."
"Personally, I am very grateful for what VEDCO has done for us, at first my husband had stopped me from going in farmer groups and he had even deserted the home. When I heard about VEDCO, I formed my own group, made my husband and my co-wife members and then added other members."
"Then VEDCO started working with us and we are now food secure, yet we used to eat one meal a day. We could fall sick very often, but now all that is history. We have managed to share demonstration garden proceeds and now all [25 group] members have OFSP [orange fleshed sweet potato] and cassava as we wait for the bananas again."
"I am really happy because I was taken to Luwero farmers where I saw that farming is a business, I have learned how to work hard and this has brought my husband back after getting enough food. I can now talk before people as a leader, which used not to happen."
