Masindi women groups undergo training in growing organic vegetables

MASINDI – Over 100 women under different groups in Masindi Municipality have undergone training in different organic methods of growing vegetables.

With the training, the women be able to grow green vegetables like; carrots, African eggplants, Ethiopian eggplants, tomatoes, onions, green pepper, and cabbage among others.

They have also trained on how to use a small piece of land to earn good money using the best agronomic practices.

The training was conducted at the Prime Agribusiness Incubation and Technology Centre which was established by Child Rights Empowerment and Development Organisation [CEDO] at their office premises at Kijura South cell in Masindi Municipality with the aim of imparting skills among the women and the youth.

CEDO has established different demonstration gardens and greenhouse at the office premises to offer training services to the local people.

However, Thursday’s training in vegetable growing was conducted for women in different village savings and loan associations [VSLAs].

The vegetables are grown organically using cow dung, chicken droppings, and mulches among other items.

“I never knew that I can do something on a small piece of land to transform my life. I thought I need a big chunk of land to start.  This training is not going to leave me the same. We spend money buying vegetables and yet we can also do something,” said Aisha Kyomuhendo from Kyarugangara cell, Masindi Municipality.

Gabriel Kato, the extension officer at CEDO practically explained to the women good agronomic practices that can lead to high farm yields.

According to Abdallah Byabasaija, the executive director of CEDO they partner with Canadian Feed the Children [CFC], adding that since 2010 they have been supporting different projects on food security, livelihoods strengthening, access to education, early childhood learning, and community development.

He also said that they have been supporting the local women with seeds for planting as one way of ensuring food security in the households.

“This is under food security and we are targeting urban women. We are training them to organically use any piece of land to grow vegetables and make money even if they’re renting,” he said.

He added: “People are tired of eating vegetables grown using chemicals but they want the ones which are organically grown. We need people to live healthy lives, have money to save, and also fight malnutrition among their children. Why should one have a malnourished child when he or she has land?”

Byabasaija further explained that they’re also training them on value addition using simple ways which are both rudimentary and improved such that they are able to preserve them.

Sandra Namu, from Kisiita cell in Masindi Municipality, said she was inspired by the training, stating that she would immediately begin growing the vegetables.

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