Meet Olyrwot Iddi, a resilient resident of Uduk II in Ngwedo Parish, Buliisa district. When news broke about the discovery of oil in his village, it seemed his fate was sealed: his home, his gardens – all earmarked for sacrifice to build a road connecting the Tilenga industrial park. Yet, for Olyrwot, this twist of fate became his turning point.

Olyrwot recalled, “I sensed opportunity in the discovery, though unsure how.” The initial blow came as his cherished gardens were razed. How would he persevere? Hope arrived in the form of Living Earth Uganda [LEU], entrusted with aiding those affected by the project’s aftermath.

LEU transformed his farming approach, steering him from tradition to innovation. Training in advanced crop management, particularly for cassava and maize farming.

Olyrwot marveled, “LEU provided improved cassava cuttings which yielded a bountiful harvest. Unlike the ‘Akiri’ [traditional type cassava] that required more than 2 years, these NAROCAS flourished in 7-9 months, ending my food scarcity worries.”

NAROCAS, a superior cassava variant, matures in under 9 months, half the time of its conventional counterpart. The game-changer extended beyond crops. LEU also gave him the boer buck – an esteemed goat breed. Olyrwot enthused, “Boer bucks revitalized our goat breeding. Their value soared from 170,000= to 500,000= per goat.”

The boer buck thrived in varied conditions, boasting rapid maturity and substantial weight. Olyrwot’s boer buck fathered 6 kids, and two expectant mothers hinted at more. With its remarkable mothering capacity, multiplying goats seemed effortless – each mating resulting in over two offspring.

Olyrwot celebrated LEU’s transformative impact: “From my household’s economy to food security, LEU excelled. NAROCAS secured two yearly harvests, and the goats fetched triple the previous price while multiplying swiftly.”

In Olyrwot’s inspiring story, we find a testament to human resilience and adaptation. Facing the daunting prospect of upheaval, he harnessed unforeseen opportunities.

His journey, marked by LEU’s unwavering support, underscores the potential to not just endure, but to thrive amidst adversity.

Olyrwot’s experience resonates as a living example of turning challenges into stepping stones. In a landscape altered by the discovery of riches beneath the soil, his success story radiates hope, reminding us that with determination and the right support, even the harshest landscapes can bloom.