INCREASING THE RESILIENCE OF COFFEE FARMING HOUSEHOLDS
In rural Uganda, passion fruit farming has played an important role in supporting 365 coffee farmers, of whom 40% are women, by offering them a means to diversify their income sources. This diversification has not only increased household resilience but has also led to improvements in their coffee production. This two-year project, funded by The Marr-Munning Trust, was successfully delivered in partnership with local co-operative, Bukonzo Organic Farmers Cooperative Union (BOCU).
Pictured: Bwambale Joel, a coffee farmer of Bukonzo, Uganda.
IMPACT INSIGHTS
Under the initiative, participating farmers underwent training in passion fruit farm management. Additionally, each farmer was provided with 50 passion fruit plants for intercropping on their coffee farms, as well as essential farming tools. Furthermore, training in Good Agricultural Practices, Climate Smart Agriculture and organic fertiliser production equipped farmers with the knowledge and skills required to effectively manage their coffee farms.
The project also extended its support to financial empowerment by delivering training in Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) Management. This resulted in the formation of 10 savings groups, with a total of 151 active members, with women constituting a significant 70% of the membership. Each group member contributes on a weekly basis and between February and May 2023, a sum of £1,638 was disbursed in the form of loans
“The project has helped me obtain a second income in addition to coffee. I am able to cater for my basic needs. For example, I am able to pay school fees for my children, take care of other needs at home such as buying salt, soap and drinking juice as I wait for coffee to mature for sale.”
~ Participant of the Increasing the 'Resilience of Coffee Farming Households' project.
