Through church youth Bible study groups, members are accessing small agricultural loans from the Integrated Youth Development Association (IYDA) together with training from agricultural extension workers. These are some of their stories.
Guli Paul – Kobe Youth Bible Study Group, Wandi, Yumbe
Paul, 28, of Osubira village and Gobe Church of Uganda, borrowed UGX 200,000 to buy hybrid Bawuto F1 tomato seed. After training by extension worker Mr. Ajuma Thomas, he moved from low-yielding local varieties to quality tomatoes. He repaid his loan on time and reinvested his profit. His current crop is flowering and fruiting, with the harvest projected to sell for about UGX 1,000,000. His main challenge is the prolonged dry season.
“My life is gradually changing. I pray that Here Is Life and IYDA continue to empower more youths for economic growth as they have empowered me.”
Ajiko Jesca – Nyori Church of Uganda, Driwala parish, Lodonga
Jesca has been a consistent member of the Bible study programme, but for a long time she could not find a way out of poverty. She borrowed UGX 200,000 to grow high-value vegetables, but poor weather led her to invest in poultry instead. She bought 45 chicks, brooded them and raised them all in a semi-free-range system. Selling chickens (about UGX 40,000 each) and eggs in the Lodonga and Kuru markets brought her a gross income of UGX 1.6 million. She has repaid the loan, pays school fees, buys food for her home and keeps reinvesting in production.
Extension worker Dawa David, who supports her in Lodonga and Aliamu, notes her remaining challenges: hygiene in the poultry unit, pests and diseases, and capital for feed.
Guma Enock – Mengo Youth Bible Study Group
Vegetable growing has given Enock food for his household, income from surplus produce and money for his children’s school fees. With UGX 300,000 invested in tomatoes and cabbages he earned UGX 753,000. Encouraged, he has borrowed again, and with extension support he expects more than UGX 1 million from his current crop.
Mrs. Candiru Jilda – cabbage production
Mrs. Candiru Jilda shows her cabbage production from the nursery bed through transplanting, weeding and field management.
More from the field
Mrs. Ajidiru selling her produce at the market, and Mr. Taban Charles in his vegetable garden at Okpokia.
