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| A
close-up of a solar drier in use. |
Over three years ago, farmers
in Mbarara district enjoyed high productivity of food
crops such as bananas, fruits and mushrooms due to favourable
climatic conditions relative to other parts of the country.
For example, annual production of bananas was on average,
13.2 tonnes. 40% of this was consumed at home while 35%
was sold in the local markets. Unfortunately, the remaining
25% of this production was lost due to poor post-harvest
handling techniques.
It was common to see many households drying their bananas
on roofs and mats, unknowingly exposing the foods to poor
hygienic conditions leading to the massive losses. The
irony was that demand for bananas was extremely high in
other parts of the country and if this loss were stemmed,
farmers would greatly benefit by selling to these markets.
A local NGO, the Mbarara District Farmers’ Association
(MBADIFA) addressed this problem by introducing the use
of solar drying technology to the farmers. With support
from FARM-Africa’s Maendeleo Agriculture Technology
Fund, MBADIFA has over the last three years been facilitating
farmer groups to acquire and use locally made solar dryers.
The result of this intervention has seen a dramatic rise
in household incomes from an average of UGsh 5000 to 90000
per month. These were sales from bananas that could otherwise
have been lost previously.
The MATF has invited MBADIFA representatives to the Source
of the Nile National agricultural and trade show in Jinja,
to share the achievements of this project. This will take
place from the 15th to 22nd July 2007 at the Jinja show
grounds.
Explaining their participation at the Jinja show, MBADIFA
official Fredrick Muhanguzi said, “We are looking
forward to joining the MATF at this year’s trade
show. We would like to forge possible marketing linkages
with representatives from the business community, and
share with other farmers the benefits of the solar drying
technology.”
The solar drying project is among a diversity of agricultural
projects supported by the MATF over the last five years
across the East African region. With support from Kilimo
Trust and the Rockefeller Foundation, MATF has since 2002
continued to play a key role in promoting the dissemination
and uptake of improved agricultural technologies. So far,
51 projects have been supported in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania
to the tune of over £2M.
Of these projects, 16 are located in Uganda where they
continue to improve the welfare of many small-scale farmers.
For example, the processing of cassava crop into a novel
flour product known as Gari in Lira and Masindi districts,
and the Silk farming in Kabarole district are amongst
these initiatives.
The trade show is expected to attract over 200,000 show
goers from all parts of Uganda, including foreign exhibitors.
According to the Uganda National farmer’s Association,
who are the show organizers, the show will be “a
centre where people learn a wide range of ideas which
may assist them in uplifting their well being and establishing
business linkages.”
[ENDS]
Note to editors:
1. The Maendeleo Agricultural Technology Fund (MATF) aims
to improve the livelihoods of
farming communities in Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya by providing
competitive grants to
projects which promote the transfer and adoption of new
agricultural technologies and
increase the productivity of smallholder farmers.
2. MATF is a regional initiative established in 2002.
It is jointly funded by Kilimo Trust and
The Rockefeller Foundation and is managed by FARM-Africa.
The MATF secretariat is
based in the FARM-Africa Kenya Country office in Nairobi.
3. Source of the Nile National agricultural and trade
show will take place from the
15th – 22nd July 2007 at the Jinja show grounds.
4. The MBADIFA solar drying project is located in Mbarara
district, Uganda.
For all press enquiries
Contact: Dancan Muhindi, MATF Communication and Documentation
Officer
Cell phone: +254 722 781053
E: dancanm@maendeleo-atf.org
For more information, contact us at:
MATF | FARM-Africa
Kenya Country Office
Studio House, 4th Floor
Argwings Kodhek Road, Hurlingham
P.O. Box 49502 - 00100 Nairobi
T +254 20 2732203/2044/1664
F +254 20 2732086
E
info@maendeleo-atf.org
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2007 Jinja Show |
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Click
for a PDF report of the 2007 Jinja agricultural
trade show. |
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