Living Earth Uganda (LEU) has been lauded for its community-based approach to fostering improved farming methods among project-affected persons and households (PAP HHs). This, according to Geoffrey Kayongo, the Agricultural Officer of Kapapi S/C Hoima district will leave a lasting legacy in the community hence the sustainability of the project.
“As an agriculturalist, seeing a project like this focusing on empowering locals, on how to practice improved farming methods for posterity excites me and the district; for that is the only way we can be certain that the legacy will remain through the skills given to the farmers,” Mr. Kayonga says.
This was during the training of community-based facilitators (CBF) of Hoima and Kikuube districts at Kigorobya subcounty, Hoima district.
These CBFs represented all the 23 villages of Hoima and Kikuube districts in sub counties of Kisuukuma, Bombo, Kapapi, Buseruka and Kiganja respectively.
Community-based facilitators are a group of selected individuals who are trained to voluntarily become role models to the community in as far as agricultural support services programs are concerned.
Joseph Kansiime, the field project coordinator, notes that CBFs are primarily expected to support mobilization PAPs and PAHs to allow for a smooth flow of project activities. He implored them to lead by example, as they are a point of reference in communities.
“You (CBFs) help us mobilize beneficiaries (PAPS), but you are also a link between us (implementors) and the communities. “We expect you to be examples, support monitoring, register, and give us timely feedback so that we can deliver the required services to your communities with utmost efficiency,” notes Kansiime during the workshop.
Mr. Geoffrey challenged CBFs to work with Living Earth Uganda to increase production and productivity from the gardens they are supervising, using themselves as examples.
“As you serve in this position, ask yourself, what does the community learn from me (CBF). “You are the change agents, so production and productivity will start with you before others adopt it” says Mr. Geoffrey.
By the end of the project, the projects targets to have identified, trained and equipped at least 100 community-based facilitators 9CBFs). As of today, 76 CBFs have been to support the project as part of the community structure of the project in Hoima Buliisa and Kikuube districts.