BUWAYA: A SHINING EXAMPLE TO UPCOUNTRY SUB-COUNTIES
Mar 11, 2009
Buwaya in Mayuge district has become a model sub-county among upcountry districts. Most people have embraced agriculture to the extent that even the sub-county headquarters have a cassava shamba, two banana plantations and hybrid mango trees.
By JOSHUA KATO
Buwaya in Mayuge district has become a model sub-county among upcountry districts. Most people have embraced agriculture to the extent that even the sub-county headquarters have a cassava shamba, two banana plantations and hybrid mango trees.
There are two buildings at the headquarter grounds which are used as classrooms for about 20 students in the adult learning class. Another building, which houses the headquarters stands out because it is a permanent structure. Most sub-counties’ headquarters upcountry are dilapidated.
The roads in Buwaya are fairly passable and many structures are permanent. According to the local leaders, while poverty is rampant in Busoga region, Buwaya has made significant progress in fighting it.
Although the National Agriculture Advisory Services started operating in the sub-county over a year ago, the local leaders were already benefiting from other initiatives, including Africa 2000, an NGO.
“We have exhibition shambas from which farmers can learn agriculture practices,†says Nelson Wandera, the LC3 sub-county chairman.
Buwaya has about 40,000 people, most of whom are farmers. A big number of them practice subsistence farming; some are medium-scale farmers and about 30 are commercial farmers. “A few years ago, we had food insecurity in the sub-county, so we decided to work hard to fight it. We have won the battle,†Wandera says. He says almost every home in the sub-county has enough food. “We are mobilising residents to adopt commercial agriculture.â€
William Katwarumu, a resident of Ntafunginwa village in Buwaya, is one of the few model farmers. The retired teacher is a commercial farmer. “I want to show other farmers how to rear chicken the modern way,†he says. Katwarumu sells a hen at between sh10,000 and 15,000, while a cock goes for about sh25,000.
He also has boer hybrid goats, which were given to him by Africa 2000. “I will expand my business and grow crops like soya beans,†he says. Katwarumu has already prepared the land for the project.
According to Wandera, Buwaya is performing well because the leaders involve community members in the activities.
Adult education was introduced because the illiteracy rate was high. Residents are taught bookkeeping, reading and writing. This has transformed the lives of people in Buwaya.
Buwaya in Mayuge district has become a model sub-county among upcountry districts. Most people have embraced agriculture to the extent that even the sub-county headquarters have a cassava shamba, two banana plantations and hybrid mango trees.
There are two buildings at the headquarter grounds which are used as classrooms for about 20 students in the adult learning class. Another building, which houses the headquarters stands out because it is a permanent structure. Most sub-counties’ headquarters upcountry are dilapidated.
The roads in Buwaya are fairly passable and many structures are permanent. According to the local leaders, while poverty is rampant in Busoga region, Buwaya has made significant progress in fighting it.
Although the National Agriculture Advisory Services started operating in the sub-county over a year ago, the local leaders were already benefiting from other initiatives, including Africa 2000, an NGO.
“We have exhibition shambas from which farmers can learn agriculture practices,†says Nelson Wandera, the LC3 sub-county chairman.
Buwaya has about 40,000 people, most of whom are farmers. A big number of them practice subsistence farming; some are medium-scale farmers and about 30 are commercial farmers. “A few years ago, we had food insecurity in the sub-county, so we decided to work hard to fight it. We have won the battle,†Wandera says. He says almost every home in the sub-county has enough food. “We are mobilising residents to adopt commercial agriculture.â€
William Katwarumu, a resident of Ntafunginwa village in Buwaya, is one of the few model farmers. The retired teacher is a commercial farmer. “I want to show other farmers how to rear chicken the modern way,†he says. Katwarumu sells a hen at between sh10,000 and 15,000, while a cock goes for about sh25,000.
He also has boer hybrid goats, which were given to him by Africa 2000. “I will expand my business and grow crops like soya beans,†he says. Katwarumu has already prepared the land for the project.
According to Wandera, Buwaya is performing well because the leaders involve community members in the activities.
Adult education was introduced because the illiteracy rate was high. Residents are taught bookkeeping, reading and writing. This has transformed the lives of people in Buwaya.