Adding value to maize, changing Busoga lives

 

 

JINJA - Busoga Shining Light Association (BSLA), is a group of ambitious farmers ably extricating peasants from the firm grip of poverty, hunger and effects of climate change.

 

The association is revolutionising subsistence by forming saving groups and switching to commercial farming.

 

The Association coordinator, Nathan Magumba says with sh568m mobilized through village saving schemes, a lot has since changed. With the help of Government, Agriculture Business Initiative (ABi) and their savings, they have constructed a maize processing plant valued at sh168m.

Busoga farmers laying bricks to construct the maize proccessing plant. (Credit: Titus Kakembo) 

"In Nabusere Sub County, we are not fleeced by middle men any more who used to come and buy produce before harvest," says Magumba.

 

"We are building stores to stop renting space. In future we will buy maize when prices are low. Add value and sell when the market price makes economic sense."

 

Besides the BSLA members adding value to maize and earning more from their produce, many have diversified to coffee and sugarcane farming.

Nkoba is one of the farmers earning big from both coffee and maize.(Credit: Titus Kakembo)

"The processing plant is also creating jobs for pickers, cleaners, loading and off-loading of trucks," said Magumba. "The final product sells at sh1200-1300 per kg."

 

"A total of 3500 farmers from Makutu, Igombe and Ibulamuti, Nabitende and Nawadala have since benefited from BSLA.

 

We equip them with modern farming skills, teach them elementary accounts and preach a saving culture," confided a benefactor Nkoba Swamit 47. "I have been able to educate my fifteen children, built two homes and a Mosque out of agriculture."

 

"The eldest child is in Senior three and the youngest is in Nursery school," narrates Swamit. "I have since bought more land and been able to rent gardens at sh600, 000 for duration of five years."