THE architects of Bonna Bagaggawale (prosperity for all) erred in looking at the project from the micro-finance approach, thereby missing vital elements of sustainable projects that can attract investment by the common man.
Many proponents have argued that the rural poor do not invest due to lack of start-up capital. On the contrary, the major impediment is lack of leadership in identifying viable and sustainable projects. Ideally, one would think of projects that fit in the routine activities of rural households.
Our rural population can invest successfully in no business but agriculture, given their knowledge, skills and technology. Therefore, the vehicle to prosperity for all must rest on agriculture. Strategies to introduce new, market-oriented and agriculture-based projects should be the starting point. We should look at existing agricultural products and perhaps introduce new varieties of crops and animals. This can transform our poor communities into self sustaining societies.
Another area that is potentially viable is bio-fuel/bio-diesel. In principle, bio-fuels are got from seed oils of maize, simsim, groundnuts, sunflower, cotton, pumpkin, sweet potatoes and sweet bananas. These crops do well countrywide in Acholi, Lango, Bunyoro, Kigezi, Ankole, Toro, Bunyoro, Bukedi and other parts of rural Uganda. These crops can be promoted for smallholder farmers while at the same time new energy crops like Jatropha may be introduced for large-scale energy farmers.
With such a programme, masses would actively participate in crop production and co-operatives to promote quality and marketing of the produce. Government departments like NARO should carry out research in energy crops and soil fertility while the bio-fuel industries provide a ready market for the produce and manufacture bio-ethanol and other by-products.
The production and use of bio-energy also contributes to poverty alleviation, food security, creates employment, reduces land degradation and helps to mitigate climate changes. Sustainable bio-energy systems, once promoted, can prevent forest degradation or deforestation, deterioration of watersheds and loss of soil fertility. These are the major concerns of the rural people.
The writer is the program coordinator for Kigezi Action for Development (KAD)
