UPFORD Program
My research this past summer was commissioned
as a part of the larger development work going on through the University
Partnership for Outreach, Research and Development (“UPFORD”). This program is
a partnership between the University of Notre Dame, Uganda Martyrs University
and the people of the Nnindye Parish of Uganda. UPFORD has two broad goals. First, it seeks to enable the
people of Nnindye to achieve their holistic development. Second, this project in
Nnindye should serve as an example for other areas facing similar
problems. Nnindye should be both a source of great research on development
practices as well as a beacon of hope and guidance for other developing societies.
The UPFORD Program has 4 more specific objectives which were established by the community based on its needs. Nnindye seeks to improve life through the four sectors of agriculture, water and sanitation, health and education. To aid in the implementation of these goals, the Parish Development Committee (“PDC”) was elected. This body consists of one elected representative from each of the 12 villages of the Nnindye parish. The PDC is responsible for the overall management of the UPFORD program in Nnindye.
With respect to the Agriculture project area, UPFORD planned to establish community gardens in each of the villages. These gardens were established on 1 acre plots of land under the premise that they would be grown for a minimum of five years. The purpose of these gardens is to increase household food security and income generation for all community members by offering “demonstration gardens”. These demonstration gardens utilize all of the best methods in agriculture in order to serve as a proper example for the individual members of the villages. The produce grown in each garden was decided to be matoke, a type of banana. It was chosen due to its higher profitability (relative to other crops such as wheat or beans) and its popularity within Uganda culture. Within Uganda, and more so within the central region, steamed, mashed matoke is viewed as a delicacy. While people do eat matoke on a regular basis, it is seen as essential for holidays and other celebratory occasions.
Efforts on these gardens were initially scheduled to begin in October, 2010. However, due to droughts, planting was delayed until March, 2011. Since then, one village, Kasaalu, has dropped out of the program for the time being. While their views would have been particularly valuable to my research, they were viewed as hostile to the UPFORD program so interviews with them were out of the question.
The proceeds from the community gardens are split two ways. A smaller portion of the matoke is given to the community garden members for their own consumption. However, the bulk of the matoke grown is collected and sold. The proceeds from sale are then partially reinvested into the community gardens for upkeep and partially deposited into village savings and loans funds. The overall idea of this initiative is to improve household food security by increasing the supply of matoke and decreasing the costs. Furthermore, the revenues not reinvested in the gardens are saved. The eventual intention of the people of Nnindye is to start a parish wide bank where people can deposit and earn interest on their money via the loans that are given out to other community members.
Below, I have included a breakdown of the different demographics of Nnindye:
The UPFORD Program has 4 more specific objectives which were established by the community based on its needs. Nnindye seeks to improve life through the four sectors of agriculture, water and sanitation, health and education. To aid in the implementation of these goals, the Parish Development Committee (“PDC”) was elected. This body consists of one elected representative from each of the 12 villages of the Nnindye parish. The PDC is responsible for the overall management of the UPFORD program in Nnindye.
With respect to the Agriculture project area, UPFORD planned to establish community gardens in each of the villages. These gardens were established on 1 acre plots of land under the premise that they would be grown for a minimum of five years. The purpose of these gardens is to increase household food security and income generation for all community members by offering “demonstration gardens”. These demonstration gardens utilize all of the best methods in agriculture in order to serve as a proper example for the individual members of the villages. The produce grown in each garden was decided to be matoke, a type of banana. It was chosen due to its higher profitability (relative to other crops such as wheat or beans) and its popularity within Uganda culture. Within Uganda, and more so within the central region, steamed, mashed matoke is viewed as a delicacy. While people do eat matoke on a regular basis, it is seen as essential for holidays and other celebratory occasions.
Efforts on these gardens were initially scheduled to begin in October, 2010. However, due to droughts, planting was delayed until March, 2011. Since then, one village, Kasaalu, has dropped out of the program for the time being. While their views would have been particularly valuable to my research, they were viewed as hostile to the UPFORD program so interviews with them were out of the question.
The proceeds from the community gardens are split two ways. A smaller portion of the matoke is given to the community garden members for their own consumption. However, the bulk of the matoke grown is collected and sold. The proceeds from sale are then partially reinvested into the community gardens for upkeep and partially deposited into village savings and loans funds. The overall idea of this initiative is to improve household food security by increasing the supply of matoke and decreasing the costs. Furthermore, the revenues not reinvested in the gardens are saved. The eventual intention of the people of Nnindye is to start a parish wide bank where people can deposit and earn interest on their money via the loans that are given out to other community members.
Below, I have included a breakdown of the different demographics of Nnindye: