WAKISO ORGANIC FARMERS ASSOCIATION (WOFA)
P.O.BOX 45 NADDANGIRA. TEL. 0772745584/0704125951
Email:[email protected]
Our ref………………………………….. Date……………………………. Your ref…………………………………
PROJECT TITLE: SUSTAINABLE VEGETABLE FARMING PROJECT IN NDEJJE DIVISION
PROJECT LOCATION: NDEJJE DIVISION
PROJECT DURATION 3YEARS
PROJECT ESTIMATES 226,600,000
PREPARED BY THE WOFA CHAIRP
ERSON: LUSEESA PETER
SIGNATURE…………………………… ………DATE…………………………………………………….. SUSTAINABLE ORGANIC FARMING PROJECT IN NDEJJE DIVISION
A proposal by Wakiso organic farmers association
To establish
SUATAINABLE VEGETABLE ORGANIC FARMING PROJECT
“To effectively demonstrate the transition of proven environmentally friendly agricultural techniques into large scale commercial vegetable farming enterprises operated by members of Wakiso organic farmers association in Ndejje division
INTRODUCTION
The Organic farming project (OFP) is intended to promote the economic viability of organic farming and irrigation as an appropriate method and technology for increasing of participation by members of WOFA in Ndejje division in the farming sector. OFP will also provide a model for promoting environmental management and improved nutrition in urban communities
PROBLEM
WOFA members in Ndejje division, lack pride and appreciation in agriculture and therefore sustainable organic agriculture because of negative experiences with poverty and unemployment. Farming is looked upon as a form of slavery. The economy hardship of WOFA in Ndejje division and small family members who discourage natives from this occupation. The promise of white collar jobs and opportunities for work in urban centers because the mass migration of farmers in Ndejje division to towns and cities. This mass migration has resulted alarming loss native farmers and land. It has resulted in an elderly population physically who are unable and a young generation mentally unwilling to work on the land available
In addition to the social and historic factors contributing to land loss is the fact that modern farming contributes to serious environmental problems, be it loss of wetlands, poisonous pesticides, herbicides, artificial fertilizers, eroding land and contaminated ground water. Sustainable organic farming, the creation of alternative markets and the application alternative appropriate technologies could stop the decline of members in WOFA in Ndejje division. Moreover, sustainable organic agriculture provides a viable, environmentally friendly alternative to the agricultural practices of naturally available resources
The absence of vegetable farmers in Ndejje division has also been caused by the extension of infrastructure, financial outlays required to make vegetable production economically efficient, the dependency on expensive chemical treatments and over mechanization of the farming operation. In short, WOFA in Ndejje division will participate in farming when: it is a profitable business enterprise that provides good jobs and upward mobility, is regarded as a high esteem occupation, and is a safe working environment. A comprehensive campaign is needed for the economic, environmental and social revitalization of the Wakiso farmers association in Ndejje division
SOLUTION
The sustainable organic farming project will provide a technology based means of promoting the efficient use of natural resources, to provide an opportunity for environmentally sound economic self-sufficiency, and ensure the provision and promote protection of the environment, surface water, ground water, and soil conservation. The sustainable OFP project will be implemented in three (3) phases
1) Design and pilot project initiation
2) Pilot project expansion-commercialization design, and
3) Commercialization
The Wakiso farmers association members in Ndejje division environmentalists will work with the natives and organizations with organic farming experts. WOFA will initially target the youth and unemployed for sustainable OFP implementation
METHODOLOGY
The sustainable organic farming project will be implemented in three phases:
1) Design and pilot project initiation
A training team who will have responsibilities for formulating goals and timetables for project performance, instructors will deliver the design phase of OFP. The team draft plan will provide for effective operation, communication and accountability during the life cycle of the project. This plan will specify the operational components of the OFP pilot project, pilot project expansion and commercialization. The design phase will have three main components
a. Draft plan
b. Design review and validation
c. Initiate research for pilot project/ expansion
Once the design plan has been completed, the research team will begin assembling methodology technical specification, staffing description, material list and regulatory policy considerations necessary for the OFP pilot project.
2. Pilot project expansion and commercialization design
WOFA will initiate the sustainable organic farming pilot project at Ndejje division using the OFP model design and information for existing organic farming models
The Wakiso farmers association in Ndejje division environmentalist association will serve as the nucleus of the OFP. Alliances to examine econometric models for the organic farming pilot project and future local, state, regional, national and international organic farming commercialization will be formed by the WOFA. Jobs to be done will include examining the environmental implications of organic farming using the pilot project method and technologies. WOFA will compare the effects of fertilizers, eroding land, and ground water with practices using composite, crop rotation, crop substitution, weed chopping, soil conservation, integrated pest management as alternatives to pesticides, and drip irrigation. The participants designated to replicate the OFP model will recruit community organizations. They will be encouraged to initiate organic produce distribution and information services. WOFA will coordinate the organic farming information transfer to community groups for dissemination into neighborhoods. WOFA will work with community groups to provide outreach services to establish food banks, open-air and sheltered food markets. WOFA will design a plan for expanding this effort into other urban and rural areas.
3. COMMERCIALIZATION
The results from the organic farming pilot project and pilot
Project expansion will be used for expanding to the commercial stage. The basic goals of the commercialization stage are to promote the organic farming environment as a viable business and life style alternative and to promote open markets and jobs to Wakiso farmers association members in Ndejje division. As a secondary result of achieving these goals with the WOFA, jobs created will be providing an avenue for improving nutrition. The commercial stage will comprise of three steps:
1. Promoting organic farming cooperatives
2. Establishing markets
3. Establishing incentives for organic farmers
The OFP participants will work to provide incentives to organic farmers who implement agricultural methods that have negative environmental impacts, similar to those historically provided to advanced farmers. These incentives should include, but are not limited to, price supports, grants for native farmers, guaranteed loans, low interest loans, tax relief, and marketing assistance. The ultimate goal is to promote an expansion in the role of WOFA in Ndejje division. In addressing the future environmental constraints on agriculture
The OFP will work to establish organic farm cooperatives between WOFA in Ndejje division. The cooperative organic farming environment will have the advantages of saving money and time in “creating the wheel “, the cooperative structure will also save money in purchasing seeds , sharing workers, going to market, and marketing produce to retail outlet stores. Moreover, larger profit shares could result from successful cooperative ventures. The OFP participants will work aggressively to promote cooperatives between local and district organic farmers. Contacting large natives-owned businesses, fortune corporations, and retailers to establish markets for produce from WOFA members in Ndejje division will be done by the WOFA directors. Jobs and markets will also be established by contacting vegetable consumers nationwide. WOFA will work to establish retail organic food outlets in neighborhoods. WOFA will arrange media campaigns to promote this project. WOFA will work with organizations , civil rights groups and other individuals to make organic food acceptable as nutritional alternative to processed foods .WOFA will establish a campaign to convince consumers carry organic produce. Excess produce will be sold to act as a source of income. The sustainable OFP will replicate pilot project at other farmers. The sustainable OFPs primary goal in replicating the model at Ndejje division IS to provide a source of state-of-the-art organic farming methods and information to environmentally conscious and entrepreneurial segments of the agricultural sector. The sustainable OFP team will promote sustainable organic agriculture as a way to reduce overall production and increase the incomes of WOFA members in Ndejje division in conjunction with emerging sustainable agricultural objectives. The foremost objectives of sustainable OFP research and development are economic sustainability, pollution prevention, farmer health, resource conservation, consumer food safety and continuing quality food production
CONCLUSION
The sustainable organic farming project is a bold attempt to save the WOFA members in Ndejje division and to promote improved economic, nutritional, environmental and agricultural practices. The climate is right to launch a comprehensive environmental and health paradigm in disproportionately impacted WOFA members in Ndejje division. A growing awareness
